The thought you are about to read is not solely the result of last night's match against Feyenoord in Rotterdam, but rather stems from a sadly long period in which Milan’s Frenchman seems to have lost that spark that once made him so special in the eyes of those who frequent San Siro every week.
What happened to the Theo who scored the Scudetto-winning goal against Atalanta, devouring opponents, the pitch, criticism, and doubts with that unforgettable late-game run?
It would be foolish to expect a full-back to regularly replicate plays like that—obviously—but this is about attitude and approach.
Number 19, who just a few weeks ago surpassed Paolo Maldini in goals scored by a defender while wearing the Rossoneri shirt (just to put into perspective the caliber of player we're talking about), has lost that "positive arrogance" that made him a nightmare for opponents—both players and fans—and an idol for Milan supporters. Let’s be clear: it would be wrong to expect Theo to take off past half a team with every touch of the ball. This is about the sense of physical and mental dominance he exuded when in possession.
That feeling of explosiveness and superiority has faded—or rather, it surfaces less and less frequently.
Theo used to bring joy, entertainment—perhaps even excessive at times—a carefree confidence, the joy of someone who knows they have something extra and doesn’t hide it. Positive arrogance. Now, he looks gloomy, uninspired, nervous, distracted. Defensive lapses have always been part of his game, but for different reasons.
Before, maybe he missed a diagonal run or lost track of an overlapping opponent. Now, the mistakes come from complacency, a complete lack of awareness of danger, laziness in closing down an opponent in key areas. The overlapping runs down the flank have disappeared, with the Frenchman increasingly operating in the left half-space, positioning himself in central areas rather than the wide ones. It's fair to vary one’s game to remain unpredictable, but not excessively so—diversifying is good, but even better is mastering the fundamentals of your role.
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Yet, amid this decline, there are moments of resurgence—like last season, during Milan’s technical and injury crisis, when Pioli’s team was struggling and Theo stepped up, volunteering to play as a center-back in a four-man defense, delivering more than solid performances. Then there are the "usual" goals and assists that keep his stats on par with the top players in his position in Serie A. But something is different, and that’s undeniable. Fans are asking what has happened to Theo Hernandez, and for now, there’s no clear answer. What is evident, however, is that—starting with his body language—the player has regressed, and the strengths that once defined him are flattening out in an almost frustrating way, as pointed out by Milan News.
In this discussion, we have deliberately left out off-field factors such as his contract situation, stalled renewal negotiations, or Maldini’s dismissal. It would be disrespectful to treat a player who has shown incredible peaks as if he were just a petulant kid.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on Theo Hernandez's situation in the transfer market...
According to what is reported by 'FC Barcelona Noticias' website, the FC Barcelona club could consider the AC Milan star left-back if Milan were to be open to let him leave at an affordable price, especially if he does not renew his contract soon as it expires in the summer of 2026.
Theo's numbers this season:
So far this season, Theo has been able to play a total of 2658 minutes across all competitions. He featured in 32 matches with 4 goals and 5 assists registered to his name.
