A.C. Milan started the 2016/17 season on a high and at a point in time were just three points behind leaders Juventus. After inconsistent performances and an increase in rotation by Coach Vincenzo Montella, the rossoneri relapsed and became content with draws. In December, the team won its first silverware in five years after beating Juventus 4-3 on penalties to secure the 2016 SuperCoppa Italiana.
The team’s key player became Giacomo Bonaventura. A natural gifted midfielder was sometimes burdened with left wing duties and this left the midfield flat with Sosa, Kucka and Locatelli defensive midfielders whose contributions to the attack can in no way be quantified with that of Bonaventura.
The biggest decision the club has made thus far is bringing in Gerard Deulofeu in replace Mbaye Niang – player whose game can improve with time. For the two games that the Spaniard has played, Deulofeu has brought much intensity to Ac Milan’s game and has caused lateral defenders to stay back and defend rather than join the attack.
Gerard Deulofeu has already shown what he can add to AC Milan’s tradition
In Milan’s last game against AC Fiorentina in the Italian Serie A, Deulofeu scored a self-made goal by curling the ball to the corner of the left side of the goalkeeper and could have added another goal minutes later had he intended to be a little selfish in front of goal. Milan is a team that is supposedly building a team around its youth system but the sales of Bryan Cristante and El Sharaawy shows the club no had youth policy. With this said, buying has certainly become the antidote to AC Milan’s woes after Alessio Romagnoli and Andrea Bertolacci, Gerard Deulofeu should be the icing on the cake for fans from the new Chinese investors.
Gerard Deulofeu can be a part of the new Milan era
The last Milan era ended in 2012 with the team disassembled after the sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and future captain Thiago Silva to Paris Saint Germain for a combined 62 million euros. Antonio Cassano departed the club after broken promises and the old era of Inzaghi, Gattuso, Nesta, Seedorf and Zambrotta among others left to end their playing careers elsewhere.
Gerard Deulofeu emulates Ricardo Kaka with his Sense Of Urgency and eye for goal. After failing to cement a place at FC Barcelona, Everton and a loan spell at Sevilla FC, AC Milan seems to be the right place for the young Spaniard to mature into an awesome midfielder and gain a call to the Spanish football team.