Francesco Letizia, a well-known journalist, penned a long and interesting editorial for Sportitalia, focusing on AC Milan's next moves. Besides praising Paulo Fonseca, whom he considers a good coach, he advises the Rossoneri to acquire Gabriel Jesus for their attack. Here are his words on the matter.
"The concept circulating around the Milan environment, albeit not from official sources, might be understandable, but it stems from a fundamental misunderstanding. Saying that Milan will spend on the market what they won't spend on the coach seems like a sugarcoating to those who can't stomach the rumours—still just rumours, however well-founded—about Fonseca and others. But if we stop to think, in theory, it only justifies those who feel rightfully furious: because it seems almost like an excuse for choosing a weak, economical, and secondary coach. I invite you to review the interviews of those who have worked and still work with him: from Zaniolo to Tiago Pinto, regarding his time in Rome, to today's Lille players. All of them affirm without fear of contradiction: Paulo Fonseca is a great coach, Paulo Fonseca deserves to be a coach for Milan. And so the idea of giving him a complete, structured, and equipped team is sacred, not as 'compensation' to the fans, but precisely as a right for the merits Fonseca has earned in France over the past two years."
On Milan's market, he said:
"The hunt for a forward, with Zirkzee's name tantalising the fans' palates. Well: be wary of the Piatek effect. Because the Zirkzee operation costs around 110/115 million euros: 40 for the clause, about fifteen to twenty for commissions, and a salary starting at 5 million net. Is Zirkzee worth this money? Potentially yes, based on what he's shown; as of today, let us have some doubts. So be cautious about joining auctions just to show off: they end badly, very badly. Additionally, a technical-tactical assessment: Zirkzee was the right forward for Pioli's Milan. Are we sure he is also right for Fonseca's Milan, if confirmed? One fact: of Fonseca's last five strikers, only one exceeded 1.90 meters, and that was Dzeko, a champion. The others, from Jackson Martinez to Jonathan David, including Junior Moraes and Facundo Ferreyra, had different characteristics. So wouldn't it be better to look elsewhere? Maybe at David himself, or in England, where there is a champion like Gabriel Jesus who needs to be revitalized. An outrageous salary, true, but if Arsenal wants to sell him, they would have to meet the buyer halfway, either by participating in the salary with a loan formula or giving the player a severance package, considering he still has three years left on his contract at 15 million net per year. The English market teaches us, as seen with Lukaku's last two years, that even in such situations, nothing is impossible."
