In the summer, AC Milan agreed to send out a total of eight youngsters on loan and as the season will resume soon again, it’s a good time to take a look at how they have done thus far.
Gabriele Bellodi (22 years, Olbia, Serie C)
The centre-back has played 15 league games from start and missed three games due to a serious ban for red-card offence. He has also found the back of the net once and is an important player for Olbia. However, it looks like his future may not be at Milan.
Marco Brescianini (22, Cosenza, Serie B)
The left-footed midfielder has impressed in the second division, featuring in all 18 games and playing 13 of them from start. Just like Bellodi, he has also found the back of the net once. It remains to be seen if he can make a Pobega-esque journey.
Mattia Caldara (28, Spezia, Serie A)
He’s the exception in this list, as he’s not exactly a youngster anymore, and he has also made his intention to leave Milan very clear. There is a buy-out clause in the contract and it looks like it will be exercised, as he has been a key player at the back for Spezia.
Lorenzo Colombo (20, Lecce, Serie A)
It has been a very successful loan spell so far for the striker ‘Lollo’, getting a good amount of playing time in the top flight and also scoring four goals in the process. He has also assisted another two goals and it’s safe to say Milan will use the buy-back clause, once Lecce trigger the buy-out clause (it will cost the Rossoneri €1m).
Daniel Maldini (21, Spezia, Serie A)
He struggled to impose himself at first but has grown into the team, scoring the first goal against Milan (of course) at San Siro. There’s no doubt he has talent, now he just needs to make the most of it.
Antonio Mionic (21, Alessandrio, Serie C)
The Croatian midfielder has made eight appearances in Serie C this season but is in a tough period as he hasn’t played a single minute in the last four games. Alessandria are second to last as well, making it a not-so-pleasant loan for Mionic.
Marco Nasti (19, Cosenza, Serie B)
The Primavera star made the move to Cosenza along with Brescianini this summer and as a matter of fact, he scored his first goal for them two days ago. He has made seven appearances thus far and the feeling is that he will get more playing time now. He’s clearly very talented.
Emil Roback (19, Nordsjaelland, Danish top tier)
It didn’t quite work out as he had hoped at Milan and a loan move was absolutely the right decision. There is also a buy-out clause, so he could leave the Rossoneri on a permanent basis this summer. He has only been with the reserves up until now, though, getting virtually no playing time.
Colombo should be on the first team next year
Nasti and Roback should be sent on loan to Serie A sides
At 22 everyone should or would know the abilities of the players more often than not (unless they bloom late of course). They’re either good for top flight football or not. So Bellodi and Bresc can both be evaluated to that extent. Out of the others I would say Colombo is the best I’ve seen in some time and he looks like he has that striker’s ego (which is a good thing).
Maldini is interesting. “He struggled to impose himself at first but has grown into the team,” how? He is barely getting any minutes. Apart from the game against Milan he’s barely featured and hasn’t started any other game. I get that he’s a Maldini but dont let that cloud evaluations
The problem with Maldini is that he might have gone to a team that tactically isn’t suitable for him. He has no position in 3-5-2.
OK, Marco Nasti is my favorite name for a footballer ever, especially with the Van Basten link.