It’s a shame how things ended with Theo Hernandez. The most prolific defender (in terms of league goals) in the club’s history is leaving after six seasons—one of the most important players for Milan in recent years—having accepted a move to Saudi Arabia.
Earning 25–30 million euros with just one season left on his contract isn’t bad at all; the amount makes sense. But the discussion here is about what Theo Hernandez could have been at Milan and how he was managed in recent months, when he struggled and showed vulnerability. The club could have tried to recover a player who, for years, was considered one of the best full-backs in the world.
Celebrating Theo Hernandez’s departure from Milan is a defeat for everyone...
This is a story that should teach us how to manage top players—because even the great ones might need support and guidance during difficult periods. Now Theo will receive insults, or the usual narratives will be pushed depending on which way the wind blows—that’s how football works in the age of social media—but we’ll see who his replacement is and how he performs at Milan. We have seen countless right- and left-backs come and go like shooting stars. But there was only one Theo: the only one to score 31 goals and provide 24 assists in six seasons, as pointed out by Antonio Vitiello for Milan News.
The player also shares some blame. At 27, accepting Saudi Arabia is a form of surrender. Sure, earning 20 million per year is tempting, but his attitude could and should have been different. It’s sad how it ended. That’s why the responsibility for this defeat lies with both the player and the club.
Commenting on Theo’s move to Saudi Arabia is Eric di Méco, a former Champions League winner and French national team defender, who said the following: "It’s depressing to see a footballer like him give up the sporting side at just 27,” he told the RMC podcast Rothen s’enflamme. “In a football world now dominated by money, it’s still possible to balance a sporting career with the financial side. Going to Saudi Arabia at the end of a career—I understand. At 27, no."
Now, with the sales of Theo, Reijnders, and Kalulu, Milan has 100 million to spend in the transfer market. There are many positions to strengthen: two full-backs, two midfielders, a striker, and possibly a center-back. It will take all of Igli Tare’s skill to make the best use of the financial resources and make Milan competitive. Selling Theo and Reijnders isn’t a good start—now we’ll see how the rest of the market goes.
Xhaka is the most advanced deal - Meanwhile we wait for Modric…
But Modric will arrive after the Club World Cup with Real Madrid. In fact, given his high-profile status, it’s highly likely that he will travel aboard a private jet, touching down at Malpensa airport, Milan’s main international gateway. FRom there, he’ll head to proceed directly to initiate his medical tests before signing officially with Milan. By the way, speaking of private jets, and for those intrigued by the luxury of private air travel, check out privatejetforsale.com for top-tier private jets, helicopters and many more purchasing options.
Who else is on AC Milan's radar for the summer transfer window?
There is also Parma's Giovanni Leoni who is a defensive target but is expensive and, above all, there’s competition.
As for the attacking department, the AC Milan club management is looking for a player who already has experience in Serie A—someone immediately ready to partner with Santiago Gimenez. In this sense, a few players have been linked with a move to the San Siro, especially Juventus' striker, Dusan Vlahovic, who is Massimiliano Allegri's favourite, reportedly.
What are Dusan Vlahovic's numbers?
The Serbian striker, formerly of Fiorentina and Partizan, featured in 43 matches in the 2024/2025 season between the Serie A, UEFA Champions League, Coppa Italia, Super Coppa Italiana, and the FIFA Club World Cup (which is still ongoing as of now). In total, he scored 16 goals while providing 5 assists to his Bianconeri teammates. On the pitch, he clocked just over 2600 minutes. His contract with Juventus runs until the summer of 2026. A negotiation with the Bianconeri will certainly not be easy as they paid over 80 million euros for his arrival in 2022. The left-footed striker's idol, however, is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which is a fact he never hid and his willingness to join the Rossoneri and his ex coach Massimiliano Allegri could facilitate the deal.
