If Real Madrid come calling, you’d be wise not to reject them. Milan shouldn’t give Malick Thiaw the chance to accept their advances, should their reported interest escalate into a formal approach next summer as Los Blancos’ never-ending pursuit of reinforcements sees them return to Italy for younger talent.
Real’s rumoured interest in Thiaw should be no surprise
The last two players Real signed from Serie A in Mateo Kovacic (2015-16, Inter) and Álvaro Morata (16-17, Juventus) cost a combined €68m (£58.5m) and that should be the going rate for Germany international Malick Thiaw, who turned 22 in August and continues growing with every opportunity afforded to him in Italy this season.
Having experienced multiple clubs as an academy prospect before Schalke gladly signed him from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2015, he spent seven years with S04 before a €8.6m (£7.4m) move to Milan in the final days of the 2022 summer window.
Although he finished the season with 24 appearances – 20 domestically, four more in Champions League play – he seldom featured until February, with the Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu centre-back pairing understandably preferred as their #1 option.
Stefan Kjaer was a surprise inclusion from the bench after Tomori sustained a meniscus injury during their 4-0 away defeat by Lazio on January 24, and his month-long absence prompted Stefano Pioli into changing shape from his 4-2-3-1 to a 3-5-2 and 3-4-2-1 – formations used to protect defenders with fullbacks out of possession.
Club vice-captain Theo Hernandez is known for his goalscoring abilities and tendency to fly forward during attacking moves, though the France international’s one-on-one defensive composure and timing often leaves a lot to be desired.
It’s why former Roma man Alessandro Florenzi is viewed as a reliable fullback that can play on either side, while captain Davide Calabria is inconsistent defensively.
Kalulu is a capable central defender, but was a right-back by trade when Milan bought him three years ago and most recently played there with France’s under-21s over the summer during the Euros eventually won by Lee Carsley’s England side.
Thiaw has already established himself as a better, and more reliable option than Kjaer and Matteo Gabbia – the latter left on-loan for Villarreal – while ankle surgery on a long-standing issue saw Mattia Caldara not attract any suitors this summer.
Kalulu (thigh) has only played 42 minutes for Milan this term but is expected back after the current international break, while Caldara may be floated out to clubs in January if fit and itching for minutes elsewhere after several loans across Italy.
With that in mind, coupled with the fact he’s been in-and-around the senior Germany squad since March, there’s no reason why last year’s Champions League semifinalists should be enticed into selling – especially for the rumoured €20m (£17.3m) Mundo Deportivo described, a pittance given the going rate at present.
The Real problem in the equation
Real have been praised for their transfer business of late, getting younger across most areas of the pitch besides the backline. Jude Bellingham has been a revelation since his £90m summer switch from Borussia Dortmund, while there is hope for the future as far as Arda Guler (Fenerbahce) and Fran García (Vallecano) are concerned.
Eder Militao, at 25, is both their youngest central defender and perhaps one with the biggest question mark long-term surrounding his recovery from a serious injury.
He ruptured his cruciate ligament against Athletic Bilbao in mid-August and isn’t expected back until March, meaning a more clear pathway to regular minutes for Antonio Rudiger after a patchy first season in Madrid.
David Alaba (adductor) is a year older than the former Chelsea man, but has been dealing with the same muscular issues for a year-and-a-half – to the point where concern is natural as Eduardo Camavinga’s versatility has been tested.
Add to that Nacho Fernandez’s uncertain future, as the club captain’s contract will expire next summer, and you can understand why they are being linked with young defenders who can lead them long-term as part of an increasingly stacked side.
Benfica’s Antonio Silva (19), Piero Hincapie at Leverkusen (21) and Sporting’s left-footed Goncalo Inacio (22) are also attracting attention, but will come at a premium as other sides – predominantly the Premier League’s richest clubs – are similarly monitoring their progress with intent. The Rossoneri should take heed.
As the saying goes… if Real come calling, you’d be wise not to reject them. Milan are in a position of strength with Thiaw, given his contract length (2027) and age in a team challenging on multiple fronts, and must remember how much they recouped for Sandro Tonali before venturing to the negotiating table when the time comes.
Picture source: Getty Images
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