Mazzara: Gimenez operation a ‘masterpiece’ – he would have cost ‘€20m more’ in summer | OneFootball

AC Milan chose to bring forward an investment in Santiago Gimenez that was planned for the summer transfer window, but in doing so they might have made a big saving.

Gimenez arrived towards the end of the winter mercato, signing a deal that will run until 2029, and he made his debut for the club during the 3-1 Coppa Italia win over Roma, setting up Joao Felix – a fellow January arrival – for the third goal.

Then, he made his Serie A debut during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Empoli and got his first goal for the club in the process. After collecting a pass from Christian Pulisic following great hold-up play, the Mexican cut inside on his left foot and curled a brilliant shot past Milan loanee Devis Vasquez.

Speaking in his column for MilanNews, Pietro Mazzara has revealed that the Rossoneri might have had to pay quite a bit more for Gimenez in the summer had they not got a deal done in the winter.

“Santiago Gimenez is what Milan has needed for years, even during the reign of Giroud and Ibrahimovic. ‘El Bebote’ is one of those strikers who are hungry for goals, who like to go to physical confrontation and who are not afraid of anything or anyone,” he said.

“The first masterpiece came on Saturday against Empoli, with a goal that was beautiful for its stylistic figure and the impactful power of the marking, because not only was it the point of 0-2, but it was a real calling card to Serie A.

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“The other work was done before, namely in the negotiation that took place with Feyenoord, conducted by Giorgio Furlani for Milan and by Rafaela Pimenta on the player’s side. Gimenez arrived for €28.5m plus bonuses that can bring the overall figure of the operation to a maximum of €35m.

“[It is] A deal that had to be done also because trying to take him in the summer, probably, would have cost about €20m more. Investing in quality, as done with Joao Felix, often pays off the money spent and Milan absolutely needed it.”