The AC Milan club decided this summer to make just one major investment to strengthen their defence: Mario Gila, signed for €30 million including bonuses.
Mario Gila is proving to be a brilliant signing
It was an expensive purchase, considering that he had a contract with Lazio until June 2027, but for now it has proved to be an incredibly successful one.
In the first three matches, he has been crucial not only to the Rossoneri’s defensive phase, but also to their build-up play from the back. Without him on the pitch, the two goals conceded against Torino and Juventus came, and in general the team showed far more difficulties in both phases of the game, as pointed out via Milan Pess.
€30 million very well spent, especially because the 2000-born defender still has plenty of room for improvement in several areas, including one that needs to improve quickly: managing himself physically.
What is Mario Gila's weakness:
Even during his time at Lazio, the centre-back developed at Real Madrid had already shown a problem that became apparent during Milan’s summer friendlies: given his playing style, based on great intensity and a constant desire to anticipate opponents (which sometimes leaves him having to run backwards) he almost never makes it to the final whistle.
Against Torino, Venezia and Juventus, he was always substituted due to fatigue and minor physical discomfort, which he ultimately overcame just a few hours later each time.
Obviously, it is difficult to change the way a player approaches matches, but given the lack of adequate replacements, the number of games Milan have to play and his tendency to feel pain after matches, he can and must make some progress between now and January, when another defender is expected to arrive.
