Let it be clear that referring to Alexander Sørloth here as Erling Braut Haaland’s “older brother” is in no way meant as a comparison between the two players, who, on the basis of their numbers, are very far apart. He is called a “brother” because he shares Norwegian nationality, both on his identity documents and on the pitch with the national team, and “older” because he is five years older. It is almost as if, in his career, he helped prepare the ground for the emergence of the Manchester City star. According to today’s Gazzetta dello Sport, AC Milan have set their sights on Sørloth.
Who is Sørloth?
From a young age, Alexander Sørloth, born in 1995, was identified as a player destined for big things, though it took time for him to reach the level he has now established with Atlético Madrid. After early spells in his home country, the Netherlands and Norway, he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace at 23, but failed to secure a leading role over a season and a half. He revived his career between Belgium and Turkey before a spell at RB Leipzig put him firmly on the map. From there he joined Real Sociedad, where he scored 34 goals in 90 matches. His breakthrough came during his only season at Villarreal (2023/24), when he scored 26 goals in 41 games. With that record, he earned a move to Atlético Madrid, where in a season and a half (including the current one) he has already reached 44 goals in 80 matches.
The question is: why would Atlético let him go? Reports suggest Sørloth himself wants more playing time, while Diego Simeone is looking for a striker with different characteristics.
Allegri’s lifeline:
In this context, Milan could take advantage of a major opportunity. It is striking that this season the Norwegian has started only half of the matches he has been involved in—24 out of 48. Despite this, he has scored 17 goals: 10 in the league, 6 in the Champions League and 1 in the Spanish Super Cup.
His name could even be one that convinces Massimiliano Allegri to stay. There are currently no real indications that the coach will leave, but to remove any doubts, the club’s management would need to bring in strong players from the transfer market, ideally those requested by Allegri himself, as pointed out via Milan News.
Sørloth fits that profile: he is a powerful striker, strong in the air and effective in the penalty area. He can combine play with teammates and is also capable of running in behind with decent pace. These are all qualities Milan currently lack and which Allegri would greatly benefit from, especially if the club wants to aim higher next season.
His price is around 40 million euros including bonuses, although his particular situation at Atlético Madrid could also drive the fee down.
