Ordine believes there is now ‘competition’ at Milan: “The merit of the mercato is indisputable” | OneFootball

Journalist Franco Ordine believes that the business AC Milan did in the winter window was smart not just in terms of adding to the squad, but driving the competition levels up.

Milan were among the most active sides in the January mercato as they signed five new players and allowed even more to depart. Kyle Walker, Santiago Gimenez, Warren Bondo, Joao Felix and Riccardo Sottil all arrived, with the management clearly looking to boost Sergio Conceicao’s revival mission.

A lot of opinion has already been passed on what this means moving forward (remember to read our financial breakdown) and perhaps the admission of mistakes from the summer, but excitement is certainly high after the win over Roma in which Gimenez and Felix combined for a goal on debut.

Ordine published his weekly column for MilanNews and offered a reflection on what we learned from the January market especially in light of the win against Roma last night.

“Competition is not only good in business. It is also very good in football. As demonstrated by what happened at San Siro in the Coppa Italia match against Roma,” he said.

“The 3-1 is already an explicit answer to some questions about the technical figure acquired by Milan during the winter transfer market session. They have taken real reinforcements!

More Stories / The Match

MN: New formation and new unity – Conceicao’s post-January mission begins well

6 February 2025, 18:39

Photos: Milan players react to Roma win on social media – “Thank you for the warm welcome”

6 February 2025, 18:06

Roma midfielder Pisilli reveals what has changed about Milan compared to previous meeting

6 February 2025, 17:31

“Abraham, with Gimenez on the bench, suddenly becomes a high-ranking sniper. Even Joao Felix’s chip on Gimenez’s assist can become an extra motivation for Rafa Leao who appeared, having entered in the last half hour, driven by another energy.

“It is only the first step, of course, and we cannot trust this Milan with a double life too much because especially in the first half, only thanks to some interventions by Tomori and saves by Maignan, they managed to keep Roma away in the result.

“Personally, I also appreciated a strategic move made by Sergio Conceiçao and I want to point it out right away. At 2-1, with qualification still in the balance, instead of retreating and defending the advantage, the coach chose to bring on Gimenez and then Joao Felix who is a guaranteed talent left gathering dust in the Chelsea dressing room.

“He sent a courageous message, immediately picked up by the team who did not retreat. But now we need to focus on Empoli and the Champions League play-offs. And here someone needs to keep an eye on the famous balance to better protect the defense even if on that occasion Tomori signed a performance of great security and solidity.

“The merit of the mercato is indisputable and in some way it has served to correct the errors and omissions made during the summer when everything was decided without consulting Fonseca, called to act as a cover for the club’s choices.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“Both the ownership and Ibra and Moncada, without neglecting Furlani’s role in finding the economic-financial compatibility of the operations (they closed with a deficit of 1 million!), agreeing on every move with the coach who had just arrived at Milanello, have in fact enriched the technical figure of the group and have also increased the level of experience and leadership with Walker transferred from Guardiola’s Manchester City. These were the notes we presented a few months ago: better late than never, one might add.

“The other conquest that Milan must make is to bring back the enthusiasm of the Curva Sud that had gone to opposition and deafening silence during the match. After the 3 to 1 against Roma, the Rossoneri returned under the Curva and after a while, the classic roar was heard. It could be a spark even if the same Curva, for different reasons, related to the tickets, chose not to follow Milan in the European trip to Holland.”