Former Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini said Franck Kessie ‘is a top player’ but stressed the Rossoneri ‘should not be taken by the neck by anyone’.
The Ivory Coast international has not renewed with the Diavolo and Milan fans fear he might leave on a free transfer next season, like Gigio Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu did this summer.
Ambrosini, who played 488 competitive games in the Rossoneri shirt and helped the club win four Scudetti and two Champions League titles, admitted he wishes Kessie will stay at San Siro.
However, the 44-year-old thinks Milan should ‘set a limit’ and only offer the best deal possible.
“He’s a top player and the market teaches us that more and more great players choose to reach the end of their contract to have much richer salaries elsewhere,” Ambrosini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I don’t know how much he can aspire to earn; we enter a private sphere that I don’t know. The question is: is it worth giving up more money to commit a project? For me, the answer is yes.
“He must understand what his desire really is, if the love for what they do and where they do it are the predominant aspect or not.
“A club like Milan should not be taken by the neck by anyone. Just make them the best possible offer, as it was for Donnarumma and Calhanoglu, but setting a limit.
“One must deserve to play for Milan. Kessie did it with the level of performances, with his leadership, always playing and never holding back.
“I hope for the good of Milan that Franck is happy with the offer and remains convinced of the choice.”