Milan invested over €30m in Charles De Ketelaere last summer but the Belgian talent has disappointed in his debut season, leading to questions over his place in the squad.
The 22-year-old has not looked the same player that shined with Club Brugge last season, only managing to provide one assist in 1441 minutes of action across 38 appearances. He has only started nine Serie A matches and was left on the bench for their last five consecutive Champions League games.
Paolo Maldini discussed De Ketelaere after Milan’s elimination from the Champions League, highlighting how ‘it would have been much easier and much less costly for us to go for someone like Dybala’.
As highlighted by TMW, Milan now need to decide what to do with De Ketelaere in the upcoming summer transfer window, with three options seemingly on the table – keeping the 22-year-old, loaning him out to a club with less pressure or cutting their losses and selling him.
Considering the Rossoneri’s desire to stick with their youth project, it’s possible that he’ll stay with the squad for another season at least, but anything could happen in the summer after the team’s difficult campaign.