The Belgian also disappointed at the Under 21 European Championship: his future with the Rossoneri is increasingly at risk. In Bergamo they think about it, but on loan
Then maybe Milan will place a 40-50 million coup, but for the moment the primacy remains firmly in the hands of Charles De Ketelaere: he is the most expensive player of the Diavolo with the 35 million paid last summer into Bruges’ coffers branded RedBird. An operation that should have made Pioli’s fortune and which instead only made the Belgians rich: Milan, who had staked everything on CDK for the trocar, found themselves impoverished. Zero goals, zero flashes and lots of benches: the first season has slipped away into anonymity, as far as there can be from the paradigm of the Rossoneri company policy. In other words, enhancing a young talent and making it resalable at record prices, as happened with Tonali. Just Tonali exploded in his second year: could it happen to De Ketelaere? Yes. Will there be time for maturation? It remains to be seen: if someone knocks on the door with an offer equal to the 28-30 million that Milan would like to collect, he will be able to do so with the certainty that on the other side they will open and listen. In the meantime, keep an eye on Atalanta, who are willing to discuss a loan with the right to buy.
WHAT A FLOP
—
De Ketelaere’s crisis reached as far as the Under 21 European Championship. Belgium coach Mathijssen fielded him as a starter 3 times out of 3 and never replaced him, also entrusting him with the captain’s armband with Holland: CDK started on the right , played as a second striker, played as an attacking midfielder. A bit of everything without being able to unlock, like in Milan. The goal has been missing since April 2022 and the cheering on social media from teammates, from Leao down: the images that have clogged the fans’ chats are those of failed opportunities, the flop was total. Too much pressure, too great the leap from his hometown club to Milan’s international dimension, too majestic San Siro, even when he pushed with 70,000 entries all for him: the reasons for the failure are many and it is difficult to predict the effects on a 22-year-old boy years. For the first clues it will be necessary to wait beyond the meeting on 10 July: De Ketelaere’s holidays will lengthen (his European closed on Tuesday) and Charles will join the group later on. Unless he decides to cut his holidays: that would be a good sign. Market developments permitting, of course.
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED