Gonçalo Ramos finds his smile again in a Portugal shirt in the Nations League clash won in Norway, on the day Cristiano Ronaldo started on the national team bench for the first time in two years.
Goalless since 28 August, the date of Milan’s 2-0 win over Venezia, the striker who joined the Rossoneri from Paris Saint-Germain finally found the net. He scored the goal that, at the start of the second half and with the score at 1-1, put Jorge Jesus’ side back in front, as pointed out via Calciomercato.com.
A poacher’s goal, capitalising on a sensational mistake in possession by Norwegian goalkeeper Nyland, who, while attempting to pass to a team-mate, inadvertently played the ball straight to Ramos, who then calmly beat him with a chip. A few minutes later, Milan’s No. 9 also had two huge chances to complete a brace, something he has not managed with his national team since September 2023. First, he squandered a golden opportunity with an open goal after Rafa Leao’s effort, which hit the crossbar with a deflection, and then he saw a second goal against Haaland and his team-mates ruled out by a matter of centimetres. After a clearance from Diego Costa, Ramos capitalised on another Nyland error – this time while coming off his line – to round him and roll the ball into the net. However, after a VAR check, he was found to be offside, with his heel marginally ahead of the last Norwegian defender.
Gonçalo Ramos' difficulties at Milan:
His overall performance was not too different from his recent displays for Milan, in which he has consistently been the player covering the most distance but has had limited involvement in the final phase. His performances have been largely affected by the playing problems of Rubén Amorim’s side and partially improved in the latest Serie A outing against Lecce.
The very significant fee invested this summer to sign Gonçalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain naturally weighs on the assessment of his first matches for Milan, in both Serie A and the Europa League. The Portuguese striker has in fact become the most expensive signing in the Rossoneri’s history, at €74 million plus bonuses. The 2001-born forward, who has signed a contract until 2031 and will earn a net salary of €5 million, will look to make the most of the next two Nations League matches against Denmark and Norway again – Ronaldo permitting – before returning on 11 October for the Serie A match against Sassuolo in the best possible condition to start scoring again for Amorim’s side.
