When reports emerged claiming Alessio Romagnoli would be sold this summer, it wasn’t hard to imagine directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara arguing over a sea of La Bottega espresso, debating the pros and cons of keeping or selling the youngest AC Milan captain since Franco Baresi.
However, according to Calciomercato, the decision to cash in on Romagnoli was more straightforward than you might think.
And not just because the Italy international – who has been left out of Roberto Mancini’s Euro 2020 squad – is due to become a free agent next year.
At the age of 26, there’s a nagging feeling Romagnoli hasn’t come close to unlocking the vast potential he showed during his formative years at Roma and Milan.
His form since the turn of the year has been desperate at times, rag-dolled by Romelu Lukaku during a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Inter in March.
And, with Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer firmly established as Stefano Pioli’s first-choice defensive partnership, Romagnoli has spent much of the past three months gathering dust on the bench.
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This’s not to say, however, that everyone of a red-and-black persuasion is happy about the impending departure of a defender Carlo Ancelotti wants at Everton.
At 26, there’s still time on Romagnoli’s side.
And Pioli has already displayed an impressive ability to turn round those who appeared to be stalling at the San Siro. Give up on Romagnoli and you risk giving up on a potentially elite-level centre-half.
Furthermore, with Kjaer 32 and Chelsea loanee Tomori yet to agree a full-time move, the lack of defensive depth at the San Siro remains a worry.
Financially speaking, selling Romagnoli with a year left on his contract makes sense. From a sporting perspective, however, the jury is most certainly out.
Here’s what some Milan fans had to say on Twitter about the situation:
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