Quality, speed, good coverage, and participation in the attacking phase. In short, Tiago Santos enjoys the best of what a modern full-back's repertoire has to offer. Born in 2002, trained at Sporting Lisbon and currently at Lille, the Portuguese player could follow the same career path as his compatriot Rafael Leao, as he might once again become an option for Milan’s right flank — a side that, like the left, will need to be renewed following the departures of Kyle Walker and Alessandro Florenzi.
Tiago Santos has become an opportunity
It’s not the first time Tiago Santos’ name has been linked to Milan. Already last summer, the Rossoneri club was tracking the Portuguese full-back, who was coming off a season with 29 appearances and one goal for Lille. The 2024/25 season, however, was decidedly less fortunate, as the 2002-born player suffered a serious injury that in fact prevented him from making more than 15 appearances.
And while on one hand there is sympathy for the player, who is still going through a rehabilitation period, on the other hand, what happened could become a market opportunity for Milan — always under the right conditions, of course. And the conditions seem to be there, also because according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, due to last season’s serious injury, Lille now values Tiago Santos at just 15 million euros — a sum that Igli Tare may consider negotiating.
It is also true that a period of athletic work will be needed to allow the Portuguese to fully regain his fitness, and then another to integrate with the group. But if the talent remains — and above all under the right conditions — it might be worth the wait for Milan.
