Jens Petter Hauge is denied access to his favourite playpen. But despite the exclusion from the Europa League list, AC Milan have not lost faith in their Norwegian summer signing.
Three goals and one assist was the result for Hauge in just 280 minutes of playing time in the Europa League for Milan this autumn. Still, he is not allowed to continue the adventure.
AC Milan confirms to VG what the Italian media has reported in recent days: Hauge was not called up when the big club was to register the squad for this spring's Europa League matches.
"It has nothing to do with being unsatisfied with Hauge. In fact, We are very pleased with him," says a senior at Milan to VG.
Clubs can register a maximum of 17 players in the squad who were not raised in Italy. You can also register an unlimited number of players on the B-list, but these must have been brought up nationally and born after 1 January 1999.
The competition became tougher for Hauge after the transfer window in January: AC Milan let go of three players, but one of them (Andrea Conti) went on the domestic quota, while the three who came in are all foreign: Fikayo Tomori, Soualiho Meïté and Mario Mandžukić.
As reported by VG, 16 foreign players were already selected before Milan had to make a choice between the last two: the French midfielder Meité and the Norwegian attacking player Hauge.
The choice fell on Meité. The reasons are that coach Stefano Pioli sees the Frenchman as a more useful player who can hold several positions in midfield, while Hauge is only reserved for the left wing. Milan have two alternatives in front of him in the queue: Rafael Leão and Ante Rebic.
"As I know Jens Petter, he handles this professionally. He has previously fought for playing time and knows how fast it can turn around. There is strong competition in the squad, he agreed to this when he signed the contract. Jens Petter has neither lost faith in himself nor the courage on the field", says father Jan Ingvald Hauge to VG and continues:
"AC Milan use wingers in a different way than Jens Petter is used to from Bodø/Glimt. He works on adapting to playing patterns and teammates. Jens Petter has a patient approach and knows he is getting stronger every day. I'm not worried."
Italian media have claimed that both Southampton and Bayer Leverkusen have been looking to loan Hauge. But according to VG's information, Milan has not received any bids for the Norwegian.
"It's because he's not in the market. If we had been open to loaning him out, the clubs would have been in line", says a club source, who emphasizes that AC Milan wants to have Hauge in the squad to train him further tactically and physically.
Souce: vg.no
