The Santiago Gimenez issue continues to divide the Milan fanbase. Zero goals in the league, a performance far from what was expected at the time of his signing and during his first appearances, and an injury that will keep him out for a few more weeks.
Before analyzing his impact further, it is worth noting how attention is often divided between star players and broader entertainment options. Just as some follow NFL players and track fantasy points, football fans, especially Milan supporters, balance their focus between stats, performance, and occasional diversions like games or betting platforms, including popular online ones such as Lightning Storm casino.
For now, Gimenez remains central to the team’s story, and every moment on and off the pitch counts.
All the elements point to a disappointing impact, at least so far. But would it be fair (or balanced) to imagine a Milan that no longer relies on him, especially given the investment made less than a year ago? Gimenez is increasingly part of the Milan world, but is that enough? The answer, beyond the statistical frustration, is not simple. On the field, Santi has yet to find his place in Serie A. Off the field, the dressing room tells a very different story. In Instagram photos over the past weeks and during group moments, Gimenez is always present, smiling, engaged, and embracing teammates.
There is no image of him on the sidelines:
This is a valuable sign, especially in a period when detachment or tension would be easy to perceive. Milan at a crossroads Milan faces both a tactical and psychological crossroads. The investment made last January (around €30 million) was significant, and the trust in Bebote in these first months has been total. But the numbers speak for themselves: the Rossoneri attack cannot reach January with their main striker at zero goals. They cannot afford it, especially if they aim for the title. Allegri has built a pragmatic system of balance and compactness, but it desperately needs goals. So far, the forwards have not delivered. This is the real dilemma. Abandoning the former Feyenoord striker as the offensive pivot would mean accepting the previous management’s technical failure. Persisting with him blindly could weigh down the title challenge. (New) striker saga ahead The January transfer window could help the team but could also definitively push Gimenez aside. Rumors of a new striker have circulated for months, but for one reason or another, the hierarchy still favors the Mexican. Difficulties, including physical ones, are part of the process.
This forced break might be an opportunity for Milan's Santiago Gimenez:
It is a chance to recharge, relieve pressure, and return with the hunger a player sometimes finds only after hitting rock bottom. When he returns, it will be his task to prove that these months were only a delay in adaptation and both physical and mental conditioning. His teammates support him. Now only his response is missing. He will let the field answer, as always. One thing is clear: Gimenez has not lost Milan yet, and Milan may not have lost Gimenez. We are in that week.
Milan and the derby week: the ultimate test
The break is finally over, and the Madonnina derby is approaching. The match is scheduled for Sunday evening at San Siro, first versus second in the standings, a game always highly anticipated and felt. Milan is about to recover key players. Today (Tuesday, November 18), after a month-long absence, Adrien Rabiot should rejoin the afternoon training. This is crucial because Milan with Rabiot is different from Milan without him. Numbers show it.
Pulisic will also return, another player long missed by the Rossoneri, and there are chances for Santi Gimenez as well. Ardon Jahari is improving his fitness and may start official matches between the derby and the next game against Lazio, after a friendly against Virtus Entella, where he thanked Allegri for waiting and arranging the match for him. The derby is crucial but not decisive for two reasons. First, the date: it is still November, and nothing can be final. But it is crucial because a Milan win or draw keeps the two teams close in points. A loss would put Milan five points behind, creating a significant gap at the top for the first time. Milan is not yet equipped for the title, but wearing the Rossoneri jersey means you cannot hold back. The obligation to try is in the club’s DNA, as Modric’s words would attest.
Is AC Milan looking ahead to the winter transfer window?
In a month and a half, the winter transfer window arrives, where Milan will try to fix a summer mistake. The lack of a penalty-area striker was obvious since June, when the club indicated it wanted a player with specific qualities. Nkunku arrived at a high cost but with different attributes. Milan will now return to the June plan: a physically strong striker, able to hold up the team, good at ball retention in the final third, and able to score. This will not be easy, especially in January. Sporting director Igli Tare is already working to bring the right man to Milanello. Lewandowski remains unlikely for the winter window; he would be perfect, but Barcelona will not release him in the middle of the season, and his salary is very high. The situation could change in the summer. There is also little chance for Icardi, Parma’s Pellegrino, or Zirkzee, names recently linked to Milan.
