After a few days of ups and downs following the collapsed deal for Archie Brown—who ultimately chose Fenerbahce over Milan—the Rossoneri have made their decision and are now set to announce their new left-back, who will be tasked with carrying the legacy of Theo Hernández.
No one is particularly fond of comparisons, which will nonetheless be inevitable, but Pervis Estupiñán has broad enough shoulders to wear the Milan shirt and bear all the burdens, along with the many honors, that come with it.
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Born in 1998 and now 27 years old, he’s in the prime of his footballing maturity. A maturity reached at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, after several loan spells across Europe (he won the Europa League with Villarreal, though he wasn't a regular starter), from Udinese to Watford and Mallorca. The Ecuadorian, who also wears the captain’s armband for his national team, truly blossomed thanks to the tremendous work done by the Brescia-born coach and his excellent staff with the Seagulls. That Brighton side amazed English football with its style of play, talent, and results, achieving a historic sixth-place finish in the 2022/23 season.
Among the standout players of that high-quality squad was Estupiñán, who thrived with De Zerbi’s return to a four-man defense, which allowed him to showcase all his qualities. A natural left-footer, Estupiñán is a full-back who relies heavily on his physical strength to overpower opponents in both phases of the game, especially in one-on-one duels. He’s powerful, good at linking up with midfielders, and comfortable in all the situations expected of the modern full-back: he reads space well, plays under pressure, and is valuable when bringing the ball out from the back.
His former coach, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille, once said this about him:
"I have to admit that Pervis is one of our most important players because he started as a left-back, but you can also find him in attacking positions. He's very intelligent—I think he's one of our secrets. He's improved in his first touch and passing, but I’m always pushing him further. If he becomes clean in his first touch and passes, I believe he can become one of the best left-backs in the world."
That’s high praise from a coach who, in recent years, has clearly elevated many players, thanks also to a capable and involved technical staff—which includes Andrea Maldera (nephew of Aldo Maldera, who spent many years at Milan and also worked with Max Allegri).
Naturally, there is still room for improvement, particularly in the final third of both phases. Defensively, that means greater focus in marking; offensively, it’s about decision-making: final passes, crosses, and finishing. Regardless, he’s a high-level player who commands respect both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and who will be able to handle the immense pressure of playing at San Siro—thanks in no small part to his formative years under coachRoberto De Zerbi.
What were Pervis Estupinan's numbers last season with Brighton?
The ex Udinese, Watford, Mallorca and Villarreal full-back featured in 36 appearances with Brighton in the 2024/2025 season. In total, he played over 2800 minutes. His attacking contribution, however, does not exactly match Theo Hernandez's numbers as he managed to score one goal while providing one assist. But, his pace and margin for growth can be a great factor for Allegri's team in the new Serie A campaign.
