Tijjani Reijnders' transfer from AC Milan to Manchester City is a story that must be read beyond numbers.
Sure, the transfer fee is one that whets the appetite: 55 million euros plus 15 million euros in bonuses, for a midfielder who will turn 27 in July. A deal that, from a financial point of view, Milan could not refuse. But behind this sale, there is much more: there is the stark image of Italian football’s positioning on the European stage, and there is the trajectory, human before sporting, of a player who arrived late under the spotlight, but managed to earn it through class and sacrifice.
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A farewell that weighs heavily at Milanello...
Reijnders leaves the Rossoneri team after just one season. A time too brief for those who came to appreciate him in person, for those who followed his elegant movement, vertical stride, and the vision of a modern, intelligent mezzala. Those who saw him often at the San Siro know it: Reijnders was never just a “possession midfielder,” as he was too hastily labeled. He was—and will remain—a decent guy, a consummate professional, someone who chose Milan over Barcelona and who, in March, signed a contract extension until 2030—clear proof that he genuinely believed in this project, however fragile and incomplete.
Reijnders' career deserved much more in Italy:
There is one fact, more than others, that tells how underestimated the Dutchman’s talent has been: he never played a Champions League Round of 16 match. A sporting injustice for someone who, even before arriving at AC Milan, had shown with AZ Alkmaar qualities fit for much grander stages. The call-up to the Dutch national team came late, like everything else in his path, but it was by no means undeserved. If anything, it was delayed by a system that does not always reward the most deserving.
The farewell to AC Milan and the weight of the decision
Despite the recent contract renewal, the feeling is that Tijjani Reijnders was gently shown the door. One of those operations where the club doesn’t push, but neither does it hold back. And when on the other side stands Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, offering 8 million euros net per year in salary and the prospect of winning everything (or at least trying to…), saying no becomes almost impossible. For Milan, an economic opportunity. For the player, this is the last great chance to truly win, and to do so in a setting where his talent can shine on a global scale.
Serie A no longer holds on to its gems...
This sale says a lot, perhaps too much, as pointed out by the colleagues at Milan Press, about the current state of Serie A. A league that can no longer hold on to its best players, not even those it has just invested in. Because let’s not forget: Milan had bet strongly on Reijnders, making him the symbol of the new post-Sandro Tonali midfield. And now they lose him after just one season. In the past, we used to talk about "projects"; today, we talk about "capital gains". The language has changed, the market has changed, and the perception of our league has changed—it no longer counts for anything.
A blow to the heart for those who admired Tijjani Reijnders
For those who always defended Tijjani Reijnders, even in times of easy criticism, this is a really painful farewell. Because it’s more than a sale: it’s the confirmation that Italian football is no longer the final destination for great talents, but a stepping stone from which to take flight. It stings also on a human level: the former AZ Alkmaar midfielder is a good man, a clear and honest figure in an increasingly cynical world, and seeing him forced to emigrate to fully showcase his talents elsewhere leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Those who saw him up close know that this player had long deserved more than Serie A. Now, he will finally have the stage he deserved. However, the feeling remains that something has been lost, not just for Milan, but for all of Italian football.
