Athekame resembles David Beckham, write the authoritative French journalists of L’Équipe. Obviously, not in terms of appearance, with Zachary having short, dark hair and David having a high, very blond quiff (at least during his time at PSG). There is therefore a tactical and technical resemblance, given that Athekame plays on the right flank for Lyon and, starting from right-back, has already managed to score two goals and provide three assists, the latest coming in the league victory against Nice. A superb league campaign, for which another former Rossoneri figure, Paulo Fonseca, now coach of Olympique Lyonnais, also deserves credit.
Space on the right
Since arriving in Ligue 1, Zachary has always been a starter and has never played fewer than 90 minutes. He has also started one out of every two Europa League matches and came on as a substitute in the Champions League playoff. But it is in the league that he began his rise: on more than one occasion, he has been named and awarded Man of the Match. All the way to the praise from L’Équipe and the comparison with Becks.
The same success has come with the Swiss national team: he made his debut last September, playing four matches in total, three of them as a starter, with two assists in his debut match. This is also why Milan have come up with the idea of a return, bringing Athekame back to the Rossoneri as early as January.
The arrangement under which the player was sent to France is a straight loan, meaning Zachary would only be allowed to leave next summer. There is, however, the possibility of discussing it, especially if the player at the centre of the matter, Athekame himself, were to push for an immediate return to his parent club, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Lyon currently lead the French league, but Milan can also offer him ambitions of finishing near the top of the table and a pleasant new prospect: while the player did not have a starting place available to him when he left the Rossoneri dressing room, in the future he could carve out a leading role for himself. As early as the second half of the season.
He made an excellent impression in the Rossoneri shirt, particularly in the final stretch of last season, before the club decided in the summer to send him out on loan so that he could return more experienced. Under Allegri, he made 29 appearances and scored two goals, one against Genoa in the penultimate league match, which briefly created the illusion of Champions League qualification.
Milan's right flank currently lacks a true leader: surprisingly, Mario Gila is one of the key figures in that area. An attack-minded full-back (and even a goalscorer), but with defensive priorities.
The conditions
It is in front of him that another link would be needed to complete the chain: Chukwueze does not offer guarantees when playing the entire flank, and this was one of the reasons that made a change of system necessary.
Saelemaekers will not return for at least another four months. Moreira pushes forward more on the left, the overtaking lane, and the same applies to Cisse.
Against Atalanta, with Chukwu struggling, Amorim chose Hutchinson to replace him. For him too, being more of an attacker than a midfielder, it was an unfamiliar role. Bartesaghi and Estupinan occupy the opposite flank, while Pulisic is a number 10.
And so comes the idea of filling the gap with Athekame's potential return: the obstacle is obtaining Lyon's approval. For the very same reason, namely Zac's excellent performances, this will not be easy to obtain.
Milan, however, will try, even going so far as to insist if necessary.
Athekame's future with the Rossoneri:
Having him back in the squad would restore Chukwueze to a strictly attacking role: in the 4-3-3 formation with which the team has been reshaped, Gila would be the full-back and Chukwu would complete the chain held together by Athekame himself.
If it does not happen in January (although Milan will try) it will in any case happen next summer.
At 21 years of age, with the promising potential he showed in the Rossoneri shirt and confirmed in France, Athekame deserves the trust that was first placed in him in the summer of 2025: back then, former sporting director Tare selected him from Young Boys, paying ten million.
A substantial fee for such a young talent, but one who has certainly shown that he is worth it.
