Revealed: Tottenham failed to sign AC Milan forward in January | OneFootball

Gimenez’s Fast Start at Milan and Tottenham’s Failed Pursuit

Santiago Gimenez has wasted no time making an impact at AC Milan. With two goals in just 127 minutes of Serie A action, he has already secured six crucial points for the Rossoneri. His arrival at San Siro was the result of a seven-month negotiation with Feyenoord, one that ultimately saw Milan secure a player they had been tracking for some time.

Gimenez, dubbed a “killer in the penalty area” by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, has drawn comparisons to Christian Vieri and Mauro Icardi on Italian television. However, the Mexican forward is not interested in comparisons, believing that his career path is uniquely his own.

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Why Gimenez Chose Milan Over Tottenham

In the final days of the January transfer window, Tottenham made a late attempt to sign Gimenez. Struggling with inconsistency in attack, Spurs saw him as a potential solution to their problems. However, Gimenez refused to entertain the offer, having already committed himself to Milan.

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According to Calciomercato, the striker instructed his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, to do everything possible to finalise the move to San Siro. His decision left Tottenham scrambling, ultimately settling for Mathys Tel, who joined on loan from Bayern Munich instead.

The Financial Structure of the Deal

The Milan-Feyenoord negotiations were complex but never at risk, as both clubs saw the transfer as beneficial. Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani had to first resolve an issue with Cruz Azul, who were entitled to a percentage of Gimenez’s future resale fee. To facilitate the deal, Milan sold Luka Romero to the Mexican club for €3.5 million, a move that helped smooth negotiations.

The final transfer agreement saw Milan pay Feyenoord €28.5 million as a base fee, with bonuses potentially bringing the total up to €35 million, along with a 10% resale clause.

Some of the bonuses are tied to team achievements, including:

There are also performance-based incentives. If Gimenez reaches 10 goals across all competitions, Feyenoord will receive over €1 million. Given that he has already scored twice, Milan are likely to trigger this clause sooner rather than later.

Milan’s Gamble Already Paying Off

Milan’s decision to invest in Gimenez appears to be a wise one. His early contributions have already been pivotal, and if he continues at this rate, his transfer could prove to be one of the smartest deals of the season.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are left wondering what could have been. Spurs’ failure to secure Gimenez highlights the club’s ongoing struggles in the transfer market, with their deadline-day move for Tel viewed as a last-minute compromise.

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With Gimenez now thriving in Italy, Tottenham’s missed opportunity may only become more glaring as the season progresses.

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For Tottenham fans, this is yet another frustrating chapter in a familiar story. The club’s inability to land key targets when it matters most has often left them settling for short-term fixes rather than long-term solutions.

Gimenez would have fit perfectly into Ange Postecoglou’s system. He possesses the movement, finishing ability, and intelligence to thrive in a high-intensity attacking setup. His early impact at Milan only underlines what Spurs have missed out on.

Instead, Tottenham were left scrambling on deadline day, ultimately bringing in Mathys Tel on loan. While Tel is a talented young player, he is far from the proven goal-scorer Spurs desperately needed. His arrival felt more like a stopgap rather than a strategic signing.

This failure also raises broader concerns about Tottenham’s transfer strategy. The club’s hesitation in the market has cost them key players before, and this latest setback suggests they are still struggling to compete at the highest level when it comes to high-profile signings.

With Milan already reaping the rewards of their investment, Spurs fans are left wondering what could have been. If Gimenez continues to shine in Serie A, his name could be added to the growing list of missed opportunities in North London.