GdS: From Reijnders to Gimenez – who Milan’s 2025-26 team will be built around

SempreMilan

·25 de abril de 2025

GdS: From Reijnders to Gimenez – who Milan’s 2025-26 team will be built around

There has been a lot of talk about the things to revolutionise at AC Milan, but there are also some pillars to build around.

La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) speak about some of the certainties that the ‘new Milan’ can instantly rely upon. It starts with Tijjani Reijnders, who scored his 15th goal of the season on Wednesday night and recently renewed until 2030.

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He is not the only one: despite the bumpy path in the league and Champions League, the path to start again is largely mapped out. There is a goalscoring midfielder and a winger of quality and substance (Christian Pulisic, close to renewing until 2029).

There are two centre-backs who could be complementary (Malick Thiaw, right-footed, and the left-footed Strahinja Pavlovic), and then the goals of the present from Luka Jovic (on an expiring deal) and those of the future (guaranteed by Francesco Camarda, first brace on Wednesday in Serie C), plus those expected from Santiago Gimenez.

We must not forget Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao: evenings like the derby can indicate more clearly the direction to follow.

Jovic the hero

The night of the win over Inter has the signature of Jovic: the striker was excluded from the Champions League squad list and ironically has kept open the possibility for Milan to return to Europe via the Coppa Italia.

Europe also means revenue: and while waiting for Gimenez to repay the wait (and the expenses), and for a decision on Tammy Abraham’s future (€20m needed to buy him permanently from Roma), we can remember that Luka, summer 2023, had arrived for free.

Also for this reason he is waiting for the club to satisfy his contractual desire: Milan have a one-year renewal option (exercisable, summer after summer, until 2028), while the striker would like at least a two-year extension immediately. For the goals guaranteed in reserve (13 in total, since he arrived), it could be worth it.

After the investment made in the winter, the club will also insist on Gimenez: while Jovic scored a brace against Inter, Santi remained on the bench. He got just seven minutes against Atalanta in the last match of the league.

More comforting are other numbers: in addition to the three goals with Milan, Gimenez has scored 65 goals in Holland and eight in 11 Champions League games. Numbers of a great striker.

The others pillars

He could find his way back to scoring, if the team were to repeat certain play patterns, for example those that led to the first lead in the derby: a cross from a winger (two nights ago Jimenez) and a header from the centre-forward (Jovic at the time).

On the wings, Milan have another talent, who can act as a No.10: Pulisic is the other certainty of the team to come. The identikit also matches Rafael Leao, the team’s actual No.10: he was involved in the second goal and provided the assist for the third goal versus Inter.

Rafa had a poor first half and yet his season has been like this: up and down within games, not just from game to game. The quality is proven, but he lacks stability in performance: this year’s unstable Milan certainly didn’t help him, but the restart will have more solid foundations.

The other old leader is the captain Maignan: if he ‘settles’ for €4.5m net per year, the extension with Milan will be a done deal. It makes sense for everyone: for Mike who will have a richer and longer contract and for the club, especially if the goalkeeper confirms that he has found himself again.

The club’s line is clear on Theo: with no renewal, buyers will be sought in the summer. The only exception to the rule is a coach who vouches for him.