One of the dilemmas of these two years for the Rossoneri was the following: why Franck wasn’t replaced Kessie? By virtue of the results, but above all theabsence in the Ivorian field, the (non) move of Milan he didn’t pay. This summer, however, perhaps the time has come to reinsert a player with similar characteristics into the squad who can strengthen a defense that is often too permeable.
The name that most warms the discerning palates of the Rossoneri fans is that of Youssouf Fofana of the Monk who seems to have arrived at the moment of the big leap into a top club. One year after the expiration of the contract which should not be renewed, the French midfielder has probably returned from his best season in terms of continuity and it is no coincidence that he has attracted the interest of two big names such as Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Fofana-Kessie comparison
First of all, a specification: this is obviously not the same type of player. Already the Franck Kessie of the last two Rossoneri seasons was very different from the one who arrived in the summer of 2019 from Atalanta. As time went by he became more and more of a “holding” midfielder and less of a raider, also as a consequence of his position further back in the midfield two. We also remember his use as an attacking midfielder, functional to the high and ferocious pressure desired by Pioli, often on the opponent’s low top.
Youssouf Fofana he is a much more defensive player and this is also confirmed by the data from his last season at Monaco compared to that of the Ivorian’s last season at Milan. Around 230 recoveries against 176, 98 interceptions and tackles against 67. Attention to another particular fact which, obviously, also depends a lot on the team’s identity: the Frenchman is a player suited to the way the game is set up and he is someone who likes to receive the ball and distribute it (2,113 touches against 1,600). In this sense he seems to be a particularly suitable element for the idea of football of Paulo Fonseca’s teams.
The European springboard for a summer as a protagonist
Fofana’s summer begins with a stage that can raise his reputation internationally: theEuropean. During the competition he could find space in the midfield of the favorite national team, France. A double-edged sword for Milan who could find even greater competition at the end of the tournament, while in terms of valuation it is unlikely to go beyond 20/25 million due to the contractual situation.
There is no doubt that Youssouf Fofana’s profile can and should suit the Devil, both for the type of player and for theopportunity which it represents on an economic level. At 25, she is at the height of her footballing maturity: she deserves the attention and investment of the club, ready to remedy a mistake that dates back to two years ago. Kessie’s replacement: now or never.
