The five products of academy AC Milan shouldn’t have sold
Think AC Milan’s problems are coming from the last few years of bad administration by the club’s board and control room? Well, think again.
When, back in the 90s, things used to look rosy for the San Siro outfit and the best products of their academy used to shine on the pitch alongside big names signed by one of the wealthiest club around Europe at the time, the rossoneri underestimated the qualities of some of the rising stars of their academy.
Here there are the top five products of AC Milan’s academy that the rossoneri shouldn’t have sold.
5. SIMONE VERDI
Winger and attacking midfielder, 24. He was sold to Torino for € 1 million back in 2011. He returned to the club last summer, but was loaned out to Eibar and Carpi before being sold on a permanent basis to Bologna this summer. The rossoblu paid € 1.5 million to secure the Italian winger who netted his first goal of the season on Saturday against Cagliari.
4. DAVIDE ASTORI
Arrived from Ponte San Pietro back in 2005, Astori has never registered one single appearance with the rossoneri senior team. He was loaned out Pizzighettone and Cremonese, before Cagliari signed him to permanent deal for € 5 million in 2008. He became a target of AC Milan after his brilliant performances with the rossoblu, but was sold to AS Roma instead in 2015. Fiorentina made his move permanent this summer for € 3.5 million after last campaign’s loan spell. With AC Milan in desperate need for a centre-back to play close to Romagnoli, Astori would be exactly what the Diavoli need.
3. RICCARDO SAPONARA
Not exactly a true product of the club’s academy as AC Milan acquired him from Empoli when Saponara was already 22. Saponara, however, registered just eight appearances with senior AC Milan team and was loaned out to Empli two years afterwards. The Tuscans made his move permanent for € 4.8 million in July 2015, but Saponara’s market value is now believed to be around € 25 million. Do you remember for how long AC Milan had been looking for a quality attacking midfielder? Well, Saponara could have been the answer to their needs.
2. MATTEO DARMIAN
The Italian defender is a huge regret for Adriano Galliani and Co. Darmian was known to be one of the best prospects of AC Milan’s academy, but struggled to cope with pressure coming from media that used to tipped him as the ‘new Maldini’. He was sent out on loan to Padova and Palermo before he moved to Torino for just € 1.8 million in 2012. Three years later Manchester United signed him for € 18 million.
1. PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
He arrived at the club aged 17, but was never given a chance to play for the senior team. The Gabonese star did not even played one minute wearing the rossoneri shirt. Saint Etienne signed him for € 1.8 million back in 2011. Aubameyang netted 41 goals in 97 games with the French side and moved to Borussia Dortmund for € 13 million in 2013. He is now one of the most exciting strikers of the football panorama having netted 39 goals in 49 games with the Germans last term. According to transfermarkt, his market value is now € 45 million, but Borussia Dormund could sell him for – at least- 70-80 million now.
Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
