Max Allegri has asked the AC Milan management to keep Alexis Saelemaekers in the squad at least during the pre-season, changing the plans after the player appeared Roma-bound.
Saelemaekers spent the last season on loan at Roma, leaving Milan on deadline day of the 2024 summer mercato. He impressed a lot, especially under Claudio Ranieri’s guidance, and the Giallorossi seemed destined to secure him on a permanent basis.
However, right after the season came to an end, Milan hired Allegri as the new head coach and immediately made sure to hear him out on the mercato. One of the wishes, as told by Antonio Vitiello, was to keep Saelemaekers in the squad for the summer to evaluate him more closely.
In short, Allegri stopped everything as far as a Roma move was concerned, as the journalist put it. The transfer could still happen, it should be noted, but Milan will only make a decision after the manager has delivered his final verdict on the player.
It shows progress compared to last season, as Vitiello continues, given that the management then went against Paulo Fonseca on some of his wishes/verdicts. Keeping Saelemaekers was one of them, but they still decided to send him on loan in exchange for Tammy Abraham.
Some clubs from abroad are also keeping tabs on the situation, waiting for signals from Milan, but it will take some weeks for the first indications to arrive. For now, Saelemaekers is considered a part of the Rossoneri project like any other player.