AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has given his backing to Charles de Ketelaere amid reports linking the long-time Leeds United target with a loan move to the Premier League during the January transfer window, speaking to Sky Italia.
Is this the world we’re living in now? Where a 21-year-old playing in one of Europe’s major leagues for the very first time finds himself being written off after just half a season at a new club?
Only four months after arriving in a £30 million deal from Club Brugge, patience in De Ketelaere, it seems, is already wearing thin over in Italy.
Fortunately for the Belgian international, the man who really matters is not giving up on a player who, before joining the Rossoneri in August, was on the radar of Arsenal, Newcastle, West Ham United and Leeds, among others.
Leeds United are big fans of AC Milan forward Charles De Ketelaere
“We have added a more offensive playmaker (to our squad),” Pioli explains. “De Ketelaere is more offensive than (Franck) Kessie or (Rade) Krunic.
“De Ketelaere, (Malick) Thiaw and (Aster) Vranckx have just arrived. They must have time to settle. They come from another reality.
“Charles; I give him freedom. But, without the ball, he must have precise indications. He used to play in Belgium without realising the work of his team-mates. He now has to learn to read the spaces. This (World Cup) break can help him.
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds have contacted Milan regarding a potential loan deal for De Ketelaere. Club Brugge CEO Vincent Mannaert admitted following the forward’s big-money move to the Serie A champions that Leeds had offered a larger sum than Milan. It was De Ketelaere’s determination to wear that iconic red-and-black kit which forced through his move to the San Siro instead.
And, as Pioli points out, De Ketelaere is not the first player who has needed time to adapt. Rafael Leao, for instance, was in-and-out of the XI before the penny finally dropped. Some were labelling Sandro Tonali a flop before he silenced his critics during an outstanding 2021/22 campaign.
De Ketelaere has started just five Serie A matches so far. He is yet to score in Italy’s top flight.
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