AC Milan’s Bold Gamble on Estupinan and Athekame for the New Season

AC Milan has made a daring overhaul in their full-back department, marking one of the club’s boldest moves in recent years. The reshuffle began in January with Davide Calabria’s transfer to Bologna and continued in the summer with the departures of Emerson Royal, Theo Hernandez, and Alex Jimenez, leaving significant gaps in defense.

To address these exits, Milan stuck with a three-at-the-back system under Max Allegri and brought in two contrasting profiles: Pervis Estupinan, an experienced defender with a worrying injury history, and Zachary Athekame, a raw 20-year-old seen as more of a long-term project than an immediate solution.

The new structure leaves Estupinan as the first-choice left wing-back with Davide Bartesaghi as his backup, while on the right, Alexis Saelemaekers is set to start ahead of the inexperienced Athekame. This setup has raised questions about whether the group is strong enough to withstand the tactical demands of the season.

Allegri now faces the challenge of balancing defensive solidity with attacking contributions from the flanks. Milan’s decision reflects a brave attempt to reshape the squad, but the heavy reliance on unproven options makes this a high-risk strategy that could define their campaign.

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