Milan fans lined up to condemn Fabio Borini after the 4-1 thrashing by Lazio last month – but the former Sunderland forward is starting to win people over.
The majority of Celtic fans weren’t exactly enthused by the idea of equalling their transfer record to bring in Fabio Borini from Sunderland in the summer.
The Chronicle reported that Celtic were willing to pay £6 million for the misfiring Italian – though that might have had something to do with the fact that Brendan Rodgers worked with Borini during spells at Liverpool, Swansea City and the Chelsea academy.
Yet, a tally of two goals in 24 games for a Sunderland side who finished bottom of the Premier League last season did not exactly justify a price-tag that would have made Borini Celtic’s most expensive signing since the legendary John Hartson arrived from Coventry City 17 years ago.
Therefore, many fans were relieved, not to mention bemused, when resurgent Italian giants AC Milan handpicked Borini to play a part in their revolution this summer. A player who scored just seven goals in 53 games for Sunderland joined the five-time European cup winners alongside genuinely top class talent like Leonardo Bonucci, Andre Silva, Lucas Biglia and Andrea Conti.
And, after a sluggish start to life at Milan which had fans questioning whether he would ever make the grade, particularly after an awful display in last month’s 4-1 thrashing at Lazio, things are starting to look up for Borini.
Winning friends
He will never be the most universally popular figure in red and black and he remains the least heralded arrival of Milan’s 200 million euro recruitment drive. Though Borini’s hard-work and versatility has made him a key player already under Vincenzo Montella.
Just three days after his delightful chipped through-ball handed Patrick Cutrone a dramatic stoppage time winner in the Europa League clash with Rijeka, Borini was once again one of Milan’s sharpest players in an otherwise disappointing 2-0 home defeat to AS Roma.
Did we mention the natural centre-forward was playing at right-wing back after lining up on the left against Rijeka?
Therefore, Celtic fans should not look at Borini’s Milan goal tally of one in nine and assume they dodged a bullet.
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