GdS: Jovic engages in double mission – goals needed to earn desired Milan deal | OneFootball

AC Milan return to Serie A action as they take on Venezia in the early kick-off, hoping to return to winning ways after the defeat against Atalanta in the last round.

This morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes about Luka Jovic, stating that Milan will become the second team with which he has scored the most in his career: he is now at 13, the same number as Fiorentina and Red Star.

Eintracht Frankfurt lead the way, with whom Jovic – a very young promising striker – scored 40 goals. Real Madrid closes the ranking: just three goals netted by the centre-forward purchased for over €60m.

The numbers tell the story of a striker who has not yet managed to definitively establish himself, or perhaps he has not been given the opportunity. What is happening now at Milan is the summary of the story: having arrived for free on the last day of the 2023 summer mercato, he is fighting for a renewal.

In fact, he is the one who fuels Milan’s European hopes: without his brace, the team would not have reached the Coppa Italia final, and from there be able to play for the chances of success and then be awarded a spot in the Europa League.

At present he is the most valuable striker in the squad (costing €13m less than Morata and €28.5m less than Gimenez), to be protected in view of the final in Rome: two days ago he suffered a slight physical discomfort, yesterday he was better and therefore convinced to play.

Certainties

For the future, there is an annual renewal option in favour of the club, which is valid for this summer and the next two. In essence, year after year, Milan can reserve the right to choose whether or not to renew the Serbian’s contract.

However, he would like guarantees: not a simple 12-month extension, but the certainty of remaining Rossoneri for at least another 24. In essence, he would like a signature on a two-year contract.

The brace against Inter was decisive but more evidence is needed to convince the club to focus on him. Thus extending a story that according to Jovic’s wife – the model Sofija Milosevic – began in 1997: on Instagram she posted a photo of Luka at ten years old, wearing a Milan shirt.

Numbers

Jovic returned to the Rossoneri shirt in September 2023: in his first season he was Giroud’s stand-in: nine goals in 30 games played, of which only 11 as a starter. A scoring average of one goal every 138 minutes: for a backup striker, he guaranteed a fair amount of reliability.

At the start of the season, however, a further step back: in the role he became the third choice, after Morata and Abraham, and even fourth when the young Camarda entered the hierarchy.

An injury to his adductor also complicated his climb, compromising months of work: this time the numbers show four goals this season, two in the league and two in the Coppa Italia, in 12 total games, of which just four from the start. The scoring average drops to one goal every 106′. Ready to be updated again.