Leonardo Bonucci has officially signed for Milan, with Lucas Biglia flying in tonight to join from Lazio.
The two signings are the latest in what has been an incredible summer spending spree for the Rossoneri, but the abundance of talent at his disposal leaves Vincenzo Montella with a selection headache.
As a result, Football Italia took a look at how the Coach could line his men up in the coming campain.
Words: Federico Manasse
Leonardo Bonucci has officially signed for Milan, with Lucas Biglia flying in tonight to join from Lazio.
The two signings are the latest in what has been an incredible summer spending spree for the Rossoneri, but the abundance of talent at his disposal leaves Vincenzo Montella with a selection headache.
As a result, Football Italia took a look at how the Coach could line his men up in the coming campain.
Words: Federico Manasse
It is only a matter of hours before the transfers of Lucas Biglia and Leonardo Bonucci to Milan are both made official, by means of one of the now-traditional Fassone live videos.
The soon-to-be-former Lazio captain was publicly courted by Milan in the past weeks and joins the rossoneri for a reported fee of €17m plus €3m in bonuses. In brief, another shrewd piece of business from the Fassone-Mirabelli tandem, as the two were able to lower Lotito’s demands and secure an experienced and technical midfielder, whom will be key to Montella’s project during the upcoming season. Moreover, much like Pjanic and Higuaín to Juve last summer, this transfer represents the severe weakening of a direct contender.
Even more so does the Bonucci transfer, which has taken everyone much more by surprise. With the most unexpected blitz of the summer, Milan have secured the leader and, arguably, the best player from the Serie A champions. Moreover, the operation has been concluded for ‘just’ €40m -plus two in bonuses – relative peanuts in today’s market, especially if we consider business such as Kyle Walker’s passage to Manchester City, for £50m [€57m].
Amid the utter awe and amazement of all aficionados, however, an important matter is to be considered: what would be Vincenzo Montella’s best possible formation, after the arrival of two pawns of such paramount importance? Undoubtedly, both Biglia and Bonucci will occupy a place in Milan’s starting XI, thus altering the formation-hypotheses that had so far been formulated.
First of all, let’s tackle the changes that these signings will bring to the team’s defensive dynamics. So far, there had been speculation about a four-man defense, composed, from right to left, by Andrea Conti, Mateo Musacchio, Alessio Romagnoli and Ricardo Rodriguez. Bonucci’s arrival should not compromise the role of these players in the starting line-up but, naturally, this will modify the whole team’s structure.
Musacchio, Romagnoli and Bonucci are expected to form a three-man defense of extreme solidity and technical caliber. The ex-Juve man is likely to guide the department at the centre, in his usual position as a ball-playing defender. This will also enable Montella to use Rodriguez and Conti to the best of their ability and exploit their respective offensive prowess, thus employing them in the role of wing-backs as opposed to full-backs. Moreover, Rodriguez could also be a valid centre-back option should any injuries arise – he has previously played in a three-man defence for Wolfsburg. Needless to say, Gigio Donnarumma will continue guarding the Rossoneri goal, thus completing the defensive department.
This leads us to discuss the midfield area, where there will be more of a debate in terms of who the rotation options might be. Taking into account the money spent on each, Franck Kessié Biglia should lead the team in the centre of the park. The Argentine is expected to guide the midfield, both in terms of attitude and of dictating the pace of the passage of play. With complementary characteristics, Kessié is expected to fulfil the more physical tasks, keeping in mind that Biglia’s defensive prowess will give him license to push forward.
On the flanks, as said, Conti and Rodriguez are expected to start. Consequently, it is fair to say that not many Milanisti would’ve expected Giacomo Bonaventura to be a rotation option, which, it appears, he might in fact become. With Kessié and Biglia as likely untouchables and Conti and Rodriguez as more apt to the position of wing-backs, Bonaventura might have to wait for his chance on the bench, or look for space higher up the pitch.
With regards to the team’s attack, an idea that has increasingly been put forth is that of two creative attacking midfielders roaming freely behind a sole striker. The former should be two out of the following three: new number ten Hakan Calhanoglu, team-carrier Suso and the afore-mentioned Bonaventura. Up front, while we wait for Milan’s next move on the market, which is rumoured to be a striker, 21 year-old André Silva is expected to spearhead the squad.
Some fans will be gutted to hear that one between Bonaventura and Suso, team leaders during the past season, might find themselves as a rotation option. However, one must cynically consider that all elite teams need elite backups. Hence Fassone and Mirabelli have moved eight of 11 of last year’s starters to the bench, proof of their plan to bring Milan back into the European elite of the game, under all aspects.
Finally, it must be noted that any kind of speculation, including this one, is, to some extent, fantasy football. During pre-season, Montella will be scrutinizing the players’ form, ability to adapt and compatibility with each other, taking into account factors that cannot be comprehended from an external perspective. Although some players, such as Bonucci, Biglia and Romagnoli, should be quite confident of their starting place, every other position is, to varying degrees, up for grabs: Manuel Locatelli waits patiently for his chance as regista, a new striker might present André Silva with some healthy competition and, in all truth, little can we know about how well and how quickly the likes of Calhanoglu and Rodriguez will adapt to Italian football.
This said, these are the kind of issues Milan should be pleased to have. The ball is in Montella’s court. The Rossoneri wait.
main image via acmilan.com