Mazzara: Theo wants to stay at Milan but value must be recognised – the figures | OneFootball

Theo Hernandez’s contract will expire in 2026 and it’s no secret that AC Milan would like to extend the deal. The negotiations will be tough, though, as the demands will be relatively high according to a report.

Thanks to the goal last night, Hernandez became the joint-highest-scoring defender in Serie A with 29 goals, equalling his idol Paolo Maldini’s record. In addition to that, he led Milan from the back and was a constant pain for Lecce, earning the MOTM in our player ratings.

The full-back’s importance is undeniable and after the game, he was asked about the future at Milan: “I’m very happy here, the fans love me and the team loves me and that’s the most important thing”. A clear signal the the management that he wants to stay.

According to Pietro Mazzara of MilanNews, Hernandez wants to be a true leader for this team and subsequently, he wants the new salary to match this status. However, he also knows that Milan don’t offer Premier League-level salaries and he’s fine with that.

The desire to sit down and talk about the renewal is there, with the left-back expected to ask for €6-7m plus bonuses per year to renew his contract. In other words, not €10m as has been rumoured by some in the last few months.

The ball is now in Milan’s court, who are on the home stretch for Mike Maignan’s renewal, which will have a fixed base of €5m per year. Then it will be Theo’s turn and he wants to be a leader, as long as his value is recognised by the club.