Reported Everton target Alessio Romagnoli should be sold by AC Milan this summer as he has failed to live up to his potential at the San Siro, former Serie A coach Luigi Cagni told Tuttomercatoweb.
It is three years now since the Rossoneri made a promising centre-half their youngest, full-time captain since the legendary Franco Baresi in 1982.
And it is difficult to escape the feeling that, since that fateful day, Romagnoli has never come close to living up to those lofty expectations.
At the age of 26, the Italy international is yet to eradicate those high-profile mistakes from his game; a disastrous display in February’s 3-0 trouncing at the hands of bitter rivals Inter a dark day in Romagnoli’s Milan career.
Given that his contract is due to expire in 2022, the future of the £24 million skipper has been the subject of some debate over in Italy, with Cagni of the opinion that the seven-time European champions should seriously consider cashing in.
“Romagnoli is the first one they have to sell. It’s too bad, because he was one of the defenders I liked best,” said Cagni, who coached Hellas Verona, Empoli and more in Serie A.
“He hasn’t improved in anything: in personality, technique, in anything.”
According to Il Mianista, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is keen to raid one of his former clubs and offer Romagnoli a fresh start in the Premier League.
But Cagni’s comments feel like a something of a cautionary tale.
There can be no doubting Romangoli’s potential. But if the Milan captain was supposed to be the heir apparent to Baresci or Paolo Maldini, it is fair to say his career has plateaued quite dramatically of late.
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