The signing of Antonio Mirante a year ago, a surprising deal for 24-year-old Devis Vásquez and links with PSG’s Sergio Rico and Atalanta‘s Marco Sportiello: why are Milan signing so many goalkeepers?
Goalkeepers seem to be a priority for Milan at the moment, as the Rossoneri have just confirmed the signing of Vásquez from Club Guaraní and have opened talks with PSG to get Sergio Rico on loan until the end of the season. But which are the Rossoneri’s plans for the goal?
Mike Maignan: strong and fragile
When Milan decided to sign Maignan back in May 2021, in an attempt not to be caught unprepared by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s decision to leave as a free agent, very few could predict the kind of impact he would have on Italian football.
Eventually, the €15m figure the Rossoneri deposited into Nice’s account turned out to be a bargain, with the French goalkeeper playing a key part during a magnificent campaign that saw Milan lift their first Serie A title in 11 years, keeping 17 clean sheets.
However, already during his first season at the San Siro, a wrist injury in October forced him out for more than 40 days, begging a simple but delicate question, which still has no answer: is Maignan’s replacement reliable enough?
Back then, Ciprian Tatarusanu took on the role of Maignan’s number two for nine games across Serie A and the Champions League.
Tatarusanu’s reliability questioned
While his displays were far from calamitous, as he helped the Rossoneri win four out of six league games he was involved in, also stopping Lautaro Martinez’s penalty in the derby, there was a widespread feeling that he wasn’t able to make his defence feel as safe as Maignan did. In fact, he only kept two clean sheets from those nine appearances.
Fast forward to this season and Maignan’s penchant for injury is starting to look as an unpleasant tradition for Milan.
After missing an initial five games between September and October due to a calf injury, the French goalkeeper picked up a similar issue during his recovery process which also forced him out of the World Cup. As of now, no one at the Diavolo knows when the 27-year-old will return, but he ‘won’t be back shortly’ as coach Stefano Pioli said in a press conference.
Looking for Maignan’s back-up
Having played his last game for Milan in September, Maignan’s injury record is starting to look worrying for the Rossoneri, which is probably why they have begun looking at the transfer market in search of mid or long-term solutions.
Specifically, they have been monitoring 30-year-old Sportiello closely in recent months, but it seems unlikely that Milan will spend any money for Atalanta’s goalkeeper, whose contract expires next June. As a result, the Rossoneri have now made Vásquez’s signing from Club Guarani official, a further immediate solution for Pioli but, above all, an option for the future.
However, this may not be Milan’s last move, as the club seem reportedly keen on signing Sergio Rico from PSG. Should the 29-year-old join the San Siro outfit, then it would be evident how the Rossoneri don’t feel in safe hands with the options at their disposal.
Both Mirante and Tatarusanu’s contracts expire in the summer, so Sportiello and Vasquez could replace them in 2023-24, while Sergio Rico may become Maignan’s replacement this term until the France international returns to action.