AC Milan’s technical director Paolo Maldini admits the Serie A champions made Sven Botman their top summer target before Premier League outfit Newcastle United agreed a £35 million deal with Lille, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport.
With the Rossoneri’s marquee summer signing Charles de Ketelaere enduing a slow start to life in San Siro, Maldini is preaching patience, pointing out that adapting to a new league, and a new culture, is far from straightforward.
One suspects Eddie Howe would strike a similar tone if asked why Botman has been forced to watch two of Newcastle’s last three Premier League games from the bench.
“Sven is going to be an outstanding player,” Howe tells the Northern Echo. “And will play many, many games for this club. We love him to bits, but Dan (Burn) just gets the nod at the moment.”
Newcastle spent £35 million on Botman in July, finally completing a deal for a player who was right at the top of their wishlist in January too. Howe, however, is reluctant to demand too much too soon from a man plying his trade on loan at Heerenveen as recently as two years ago.
There can certainly be few doubts about Botman’s talent. The fact that AC Milan made the Dutch international their number one summer target before signing De Ketelaere instead speaks volumes, with the Scudetto holders renowned developers of young players with genuinely elite-level potential.
AC Milan wanted Sven Botman before Newcastle United move
“Before (De Ketelaere), we tried to sign Botman,” Maldini explains.
“(Botman) would have exhausted our budget. And, at that point, we would have turned to other positions but signed them on loan.”
Milan eventually paid around £32 million for De Ketelaere, fighting off competition from Leeds United for the elegant attacking midfielder.
“We chose this player (De Ketelaere) at all costs,” Maldini adds. “Because he is young and strong. Of course, it will take time to see him at his best. A player born in 2001 is not yet ready to be star at a club like Milan.
“The idea was not to sign average footballers and sign exciting prospects. Charles is among them. We must wait for him (to develop), but don’t have many doubts.”
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