Santiago Gimenez landed yesterday at 18:30 at Milan's private flights airport.
The Rossoneri club has its new center forward, along with the feeling that they have addressed the two main gaps in the squad during this transfer window: the right-back position (due to Emerson Royal’s injury) and the attack, considering that Abraham and Morata have underperformed in the first half of the season. However, this does not mean that the Rossoneri's transfer business is over. In the last 48 hours before the window closes (deadline tomorrow at midnight), Milan's directors will remain alert for any opportunities to add... a cherry on top. Or, considering their struggling Serie A standings, a turbo boost in the race for Champions League qualification.
Any Possible names for Milan in the remaining hours of the transfer market?
The standout name is João Félix, who continues to be offered by his agent, Jorge Mendes. This happened again yesterday, and Milan... is not turning off its phone. If they are talking with the Portuguese super-agent, there must be a reason, right? Keep an eye on midfield as well, because there is still room in Milan’s Champions League squad list to add an Italian midfielder or one who has trained in Italy for at least 36 months. Some players have been proposed and evaluated, with Monza's Warren Bondo being the most notable, though he has not convinced Milan at this stage.
€30M + bonuses
The deal with Feyenoord was finalized on Friday night, with signatures arriving yesterday morning, granting Gimenez the green light to travel to Milan. He took a private flight (ID: TJD401) from Rotterdam around 17:00, accompanied by his father Christian, his mother Bernarda, and his wife Fernanda. He was welcomed in Linate by an annoying rain, but he barely noticed as he was greeted by around a hundred fans waiting for him between the private jet terminal and the hotel near San Siro, where Conceição and Walker reside—although he narrowly missed meeting the Englishman, who was heading to Milanello for a pre-match retreat.
"I chose Milan because it is a great club. I’m happy. Greetings and hugs to the fans. Let's give it our all!" said Gimenez while signing a Mexican flag and a Milan jersey.
Milan paid €30 million plus bonuses, some of which are easy to achieve. The total fee could reach a maximum of €35 million. Given that he was born in 2001, this is an investment that will be amortized over time, especially if he maintains the exceptional numbers he posted with Feyenoord in the Eredivisie. He will take Morata’s spot in the squad.
Birthday and medicals
It was a night of big smiles for Gimenez—not only due to his Milan transfer but also because he celebrated his father’s 44th birthday. However, an early wake-up call awaits him: from 8:15 AM onward, he will undergo medical tests, and in the afternoon, around 3 PM, he will head to Casa Milan, where many fans are expected to gather before heading to San Siro.
Santiago will then go to San Siro to watch the derby, and around 5 PM, he will step onto the pitch to be presented to his new supporters. He will also visit the dressing room to greet his teammates—either before or after the match. His press conference is likely to take place on Tuesday, and barring any setbacks, he could be on the bench Wednesday for the Coppa Italia quarter-final against Roma, depending on his adductor condition. However, he has reassured Milan's management about his fitness.
Now, João Félix to Milan?
Back to the transfer market. Jorge Mendes is in Italy, and his phones are buzzing. He has had multiple contacts with Milan’s Furlani and Moncada, as he is keen to find a way to move João Félix away from Chelsea. The former Atlético Madrid star, who was signed for €52 million last summer, has not found the playing time he was hoping for and is mostly featuring in the Conference League—far below his ambitions.
Aston Villa had also been interested but opted to sign Marco Asensio from PSG instead, meaning Milan now faces no competition. Conceição would gladly coach João Félix, but Milan does not intend to pay a hefty loan fee, even for a dry loan or one with a simple option to buy. Additionally, the player's salary (over €2 million net until June) and agent fees are another issue.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is not willing to let him go for free while still covering part of his wages. Since Milan does not consider Félix a necessity—as they still have Jović, Okafor, and Camarda—the deal remains unlikely. However, it would be unwise to completely rule it out...
Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
