Loan watch: verdicts so far and who deserves first-team promotion at Milan [Bonus article]
The season is moving forward at a tremendous speed and AC Milan will soon have to make evaluations on the players that are currently loaned out. Should they stay with the first team next season, move out on loan again or even leave permanently? All three scenarios are likely to happen in the summer.
Overview
Brescianini (Cosenza, Serie B): The midfielder has impressed many during his loan spell at the second-tier side. He has played 25 of the 30 games from start and coach William Viali considers him a key part of the team. The unpolished midfielder we saw at Milan is no longer there, in that aspect the 23-year-old has improved massively.
His journey is similar to that of Tommaso Pobega, but even though they’re both left-footed they are two different players. Brescianini is tall and strong, just like Pobega, but he relies more on his technique. It would be fair to say that his vision of the game is slightly better as well, at least in the build-up phase.
Having said all of this, though, he’s certainly not Milan-level and I’m not sure that he ever will be, unfortunately.
Caldara (Spezia, Serie A): It almost feels redundant to talk about the centre-back as he will 100% leave Milan in the summer. He has improved from the horrors of his career but he’s pretty much bang average these days. He mixes good performances with some really poor decision-making, and Spezia is pretty much his level.
Colombo (Lecce, Serie A): What a season it has been for the youngster. After a spell in Serie B with SPAL last season, somewhat struggling at times even though he had his moments, many weren’t expecting this ‘blow-up’ in the first tier. He’s still very young and inexperienced, but man does he have great potential.
He has found the back of the net four times this season, including a screamer against Napoli, and has assisted an additional two goals. On top of that, he has scored three goals for Italy’s U21 side including a brace during the recent international break. He clearly has a knack for scoring goals, even at the age of 21.
He’s one of the biggest talents to come out of Milan’s academy in a long time, to be perfectly honest, and he’s proving his value on the big stage. He’s not the tallest of strikers (1.83m), but uses his low centre of gravity really well and has a rocket of a left foot, and on top of that he has some speed.
Lecce have a buy-out clause at €2.5m but Milan will exercise their buy-back, which is set at €3.5m. In short, he will absolutely remain within the Rossoneri ranks as the management believes in him a lot.
Jungdal (SCR Altach, Austrian Bundesliga): The goalkeeper was sent out on loan halfway through this season and has done okay thus far. Just like Lazetic, whom we will come onto, he joined the Austrian side Altach. They finished dead last in the regular season with just 17 points in 22 games and are now set to fight in the relegation play-offs, which isn’t ideal.
Jungdal has been the starting goalkeeper since he joined and he has kept one clean sheet. Altach have and option to buy which they can trigger at the end of the season and it’s possible they will, obviously depending on the relegation outcome. With regards to if he is Milan quality, though, I’m not so sure.
Lazetic (SCR Altach, Austrian Bundesliga): The Serbian was one of the stars in Milan’s Primavera side and after opting to stay in the summer, he made the loan switch in January instead. He has made five appearances thus far for a total of 173 minutes, showing glimpses of what he can do.
Altach’s manager, the legend Miroslav Klose, had nothing but praise for Lazetic: “Lazetic has something special. We knew about his weaknesses already, he’s not used to working off the ball. However, on the ball he does really good things in training.”
His potential is undeniable and he could become a first-team-worthy player for Milan quite soon. It would be nice to see him bagging a decent amount of goals while on loan for a senior team, though, and that’s where I think we are heading for the 2023/24 season. The Altach loan is a dry loan, meaning he will return to Milan in the summer.
Maldini (Spezia, Serie A): It’s not been a tremendous loan spell for the youngster, truth be told, as he initially struggled to even get playing time. That being said, the situation has improved lately and his goal against Inter evidenced his growth. Not to mention the goal he scored against Milan in the fall.
14 appearances and 441 minutes, though, isn’t enough for a player like Maldini who needs to continue his growth. Another loan spell thus seems needed for the youngster to even be in the running for a spot in Milan’s first team (technically he has been part of the first team already, but not really if we consider playing time).
Nasti (Cosenza, Serie B): He was one of the exclamation marks in the Primavera and decided to join his Milan teammate Brescianini at the Serie B club for this season. Given his very young age still, 19, he hasn’t always been trusted with a starting spot but he has taken the chance when given it.
In 18 appearances, getting a decent 1000 minutes, he has found the back of the net three times and they have been important goals. Cosenza sitting in 17th place hasn’t helped him thrive, and Serie B can sometimes be a very tricky league for strikers. Just like most of Milan’s loanees, therefore, he needs another loan spell.
During the latest international break, he bagged a goal and a brace for Italy’s U20 side as they faced Norway and Germany (both ended in draws). He might not be on the same level as Lazetic potential-wise, but he’s not far off.
Who deserves a first-team spot
Based on what we have seen from the loanees this season, only one deserves a spot in Milan’s first team next season and that player is Colombo. Milan’s attacking department is ageing and the youngster could be the fresh breath of air needed, not to mention that it would be a great decision financially.
Colombo has proved that he can score in the first tier and, above all, that he converts the chances he gets. Milan will surely be able to provide him with better service than the Lecce players, even if they have done well this season, and this should benefit his growth even more.
Out of the rest, Lazetic is probably the next in line for a first-team spot, possibly also Maldini. But not even them have been convincing enough so far to really compete for a spot in the team, which is why new loans would be good for next season.