Former Arsenal youngster Ismael Bennacer can still have a career in the Premier League with the AC Milan midfielder tipped for a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Having made only one first-team appearance during his two-year spell at Arsenal between 2015 and 2017 – coming in a 3-0 EFL Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday no less – fellow Algeria international Islam Slimani may have a point when he suggests that Ismael Bennacer may have unfinished business in English football.
Bennacer, like Serge Gnabry, Yunus Musah, Donyell Malen and co, is living proof that a player with the right mentality and enough ability can bounce back from failing to make the grade at a Premier League giant.
The tough-tackling defensive midfielder left Arsenal for Empoli to the tune of just £900,000. Five years later, he was a key part of the AC Milan team which claimed the Serie A title under Stefano Pioli, with Slimani convinced that Bennacer – once he rediscovers his peak form after knee surgery – can afford to aim even higher while swapping the seven-time European champions for one of the continent’s very top clubs.
Arsenal sold Ismael Bennacer for less than £1 million
“I have known him since 2017, and I can say that he deserves to be where he is,” Slimani, who joined Leicester in a £29 million deal when The Foxes were the reigning champions of English football, tells Gianluca di Marzio.
“When he was 17 or 18-years-old, it was already immediately noticeable that he had a lot of quality. And, without taking anything away from Milan which is a great club, I believe that he can aim even higher.
“He could play for teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Especially because he is still young. I maybe would have left (Milan) already. Where (should he go)? To the Premier League!
“The injury he suffered last spring held him back. Previously he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world, but I’m sure he’ll be back even stronger.”
Potential Kalvin Phillips replacement at Man City
Bennacer has been linked with the likes of Man City, Manchester United and Liverpool in previous transfer windows, though those rumours have gone quiet of late with injury keeping the 26-year-old out of the Milan side for much of the current campaign.
There could be a place in Pep Guardiola’s squad for a player of Bennacer’s deep-lying qualities come the summer, however, with West Ham loanee Kalvin Phillips expected to leave the Etihad Stadium permanently.
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