In an interview with ClaroSports, a Mexican sports outlet, Christian Gimenez, father of Santiago Gimenez, a former footballer and current coach, spoke candidly about his son’s turbulent moment, marked by inconsistent performances on the pitch and persistent rumors of a potential departure from Milan that ultimately didn’t materialize:
"At first, we heard all sorts of things. Then, on Friday, when Santiago started the match, we heard the statements from Milan’s sporting director, and we began to understand what was really going on. We didn’t know what was happening: he was starting, yet they wanted to sell him. Honestly, it was all very confusing. It’s rare for a sporting director to make such statements. Santi’s agent was always in contact with the club. The club had the chance to do that swap deal, but Santi was never consulted about it. There were rumors, but the reality is that Gimenez is a Milan player, he has a contract, and on Monday morning, all parties met: the president, the sporting director, and advisors like Ibrahimovic, who played a key role, decided that Santi would stay. They pushed for that swap, but it was never confirmed."
How have the last few days been?
"I felt awful, really awful. It was a rough night. I didn’t sleep, constantly keeping up with what was happening and staying in touch with the club. After hearing the sporting director’s words, it was tough. The transfer window was closing, so I had to stay on top of everything. It was all very strange. We didn’t have time to figure out if it was true that the club wouldn’t consider him for the season. This is a World Cup year, and if Santi didn’t have a chance to fight for a starting spot, it would’ve been complicated and tough. But in the end, we made a good decision. I don’t know if they decided afterward or were already aware of it. We’re happy Santi is still at Milan. At one point, they doubted his abilities and his qualities because both the coach and the sporting director are new. They’ll get to know him by coaching and working with him. Tare and Allegri spoke with Santiago. It all felt odd to me because he started two out of three matches and a friendly. Now there’s a bit of calm with the national team, then he’ll return to Milan, and we’ll see what happens. I think this whole ordeal will bring out the beast inside him."
What happens now?
"It’s up to Santi. But I’ve shared what he’s going through. In Milan’s sporting and business model, they just invested 40 million dollars in a player who, after four months, gets loaned out. It doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t know if it happened or not, but it was talked about that way. In the end, it’s all up to him. I know Santi is at a club he loves and wants to be at, and if he’s not at the club, his life isn’t over. The truth is, he’s very happy at Milan. It took a lot for him to get there, it took him a while. Milan demands something from you every weekend. Ten players have left since June, including some very important ones, but I have great confidence he’ll have a big season."
How has Santiago Gimenez reacted to this situation?
"We need to stay calm. What happened should make him stronger, it should hit Santi’s pride after all this. Milan is a big club, and it demands a ton. He’s given us a lot of calm: he’s taught us how to act at his age, keeping nerves in check, managing emotions. A footballer’s career is short, and I think he has a lot of room to grow. I’m reassured not just by what I see on the pitch but also by what I see off it. It’ll all depend on Santi. In the end, I think it comes down to where he wants to go. He’s at a club he loves, but if he leaves, life doesn’t end."
And now the national team…
"I think Santi has a chance to learn a lot from Raúl Jimenez right now. He has room to grow with the national team. Raúl is at an incredible level, and I think the strikers who come after him should learn from him."
