Paris and Genk are less than 400 km apart, and the journey takes about four and a half hours—the same path that Milan could ideally follow for its left flank. In the Nations League fixtures, while at the Stade de France, Theo Hernandez missed what could have been the decisive penalty for the Final Four—forcing Maignan to intervene to secure victory over Croatia, at the Cegeka Arena, Maxim De Cuyper, his designated successor at Milan, found the back of the net.
The left-footed Club Brugge defender opened the scoring in Belgium’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine, a result later sealed by a Lukaku brace. Coming on in the 69th minute for Meunier, De Cuyper needed just one minute to score and put the game on the right track. This was a playoff match: Belgium secured a place in League A, Ukraine in League B—yet another confirmation that De Cuyper is now an internationally recognized player. It is no surprise, then, that as Milan faces a decisive summer regarding Theo’s future—torn between renewal and a potential sale—De Cuyper’s name is repeatedly mentioned as his replacement.
Milan’s left flank is set for a new look. The Rossoneri have been searching for a backup to Hernandez, but also for someone capable of stepping up should the French full-back be sold. After all, the former Real Madrid player’s contract expires in June 2026, and he is about to enter the final year of his deal. This makes it crucial either to extend his contract, an option that currently seems distant—or to sell him in the coming months to avoid losing him for free the following year.
Is De Cuyper Theo's heir?
It’s a revolving door on Milan’s left flank. The club has been monitoring De Cuyper for at least three seasons, first at Westerlo and now at Club Brugge, a club Milan has already done business with in the De Ketelaere deal. The asking price is relatively affordable: around 22–25 million euros, a figure not far from the 22.8 million euros Milan paid in 2019 to sign Theo from Real Madrid.
Who is Milan-linked player De Cuyper?
Born in Knokke-Heist on December 22, 2000, Maxime De Cuyper is an attacking full-back, physically strong and technically sound. He is under contract with Club Brugge until June 2028. In recent weeks, Tuttosport reported an initial meeting at Casa Milan between the Rossoneri’s management and the player’s agents, though no formal negotiations have yet begun. De Cuyper is attracting strong interest from Premier League clubs like Arsenal and West Ham, as well as Serie A sides such as Juventus. A product of Club Brugge’ youth academy, he made his senior debut in the Europa League in February 2020. He gained valuable experience on loan at Westerlo before returning to his parent club, setting the stage for a potential leap to one of Europe’s top teams.
Source: Calciomercato.com
