One year. That was enough, or rather, even too much, to mark the end of the relationship between Emerson Royal and AC Milan. Arriving last summer amid high expectations and a €15 million investment that was far from insignificant, the Brazilian full-back never managed to establish himself, let alone win over the Rossoneri fans, who often targeted him with harsh criticism throughout last season.
Emerson Royal’s story at Milan has therefore reached a quick, almost inevitable conclusion, only delayed by six months due to an injury last January that prevented his move to Galatasaray. Much was expected from him, but from the very beginning, the Brazilian struggled not only to adapt to the pace and demands of Italian football but also showed clear defensive limitations and ineffective attacking runs.
These issues saw him fall down the pecking order—first under Paulo Fonseca, then under Sérgio Conceição—who, injury or not, preferred the young Alex Jiménez.
Today, July 24, almost a year after his arrival, Milan are once again looking for a solution at right-back and are working on the sale of Emerson Royal, who is now increasingly close to Flamengo. This comes after yesterday afternoon’s incredible saga, which saw him on the verge of a move to Istanbul once again—but this time to Besiktas.
The sense at Casa Milan is that the club has come to realize that the pact with the Brazilian was ultimately a mistake—in judgment, in context, and in timing. It would have been better, or at least more prudent, to rely on a sure thing rather than a gamble in such a key position, as Milan now find themselves right back at square one.
Source: Milan News.
