MN: Why Fofana is looking more and more like Milan’s missing midfield piece | OneFootball

Many believed that Youssouf Fofana would be the most important signing that AC Milan made this summer, and so far he could potentially scoop that prize.

As MilanNews recall, during the summer Paulo Fonseca was asked about the club’s pursuit of a new midfielder during a press conference, and his reply left no room for interpretation: “Everyone knows, the midfielder is Fofana.”

Milan chased him all summer, tearing down the wall that Monaco put up brick by brick. They did a lot of diplomatic work and the player’s desire to join made the difference, and while he took a couple of games to get up to speed he has since become an immovable starter.

Since then he never stopped and he has grown from match to match, adapting to his new environment and the new role that Fonseca asked of him. The Frenchman is often paired with Tijjani Reijnders, but effectively he is the shield in front of the defence because the Dutchman likes getting forward.

Anyone who has watched Milan in the last two years could not help but think that they were missing a midfielder with certain defensive characteristics; a dynamic and modern player who could be useful in both phases.

There is less than a quarter of the season in the books, but seeing how Fofana held his own against the likes of Luka Modric, Federico Valverde, Aurelian Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham sent a message. In fact, his interception led to the goal that made it 2-1.

Fonseca has made it clear in his comments that he wants players who show courage and who follow his ideas. Fofana ticks those boxes, just as his abilities did which led the management to pursue him.