In Saturday’s Serie A opener against Cremonese, Santiago Gimenez will start at the center of Milan’s attack. It is certainly not a choice made on merit, since against Bari the Mexican showed he is still slightly behind his teammates in terms of fitness. Rather, it is a forced decision, given that Rafael Leao’s injury leaves “El Bebote” as the only available striker for Max Allegri.
Opportunity makes the striker, and the one Gimenez will have against Cremonese is one he must seize to the fullest. The former Feyenoord man already starts lower in the pecking order under the Rossoneri coach, let alone if another high-profile center-forward such as Dusan Vlahovic or Rasmus Hojlund were to arrive.
Those close to the 2001-born forward, however, emphasize his strong determination not to give up. He knows perfectly well that his first months at Milan have not been positive—flashes of the player he can be mixed with bench time and less-than-ideal reactions. He also knows the club is actively seeking another striker with different characteristics, as relayed via Milannews.it.
Still, Gimenez wants to show all his worth and prove his critics wrong, not with words, but on the pitch, which has always been (and always will be) the ultimate judge.
