A difficult season can happen to any player, but Theo Hernandez’s could be considered the worst of his career because, unlike his negative experience at Alavés, there was at least the excuse of his very young age.
The French full-back has been unable to perform as he would like and should, limited by factors that have taken away the serenity that once led him to world-class performances in his role. Among these factors is certainly the long negotiation for his contract renewal, which turned into a roller coaster with Milan.
A small mystery
Between December and January, the negotiation for Theo Hernandez’s contract extension with Milan seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough: initially, there was the meeting at Casa Milan between the agent of the Rossoneri number 19, Manuel Garcia Quilon, and CEO Giorgio Furlani to finalize the details of the Growth Decree, followed by a phone call after the Supercoppa Italiana final against Inter that seemed to be the decisive one. In reality, it ended up being the last confrontation between the parties.
What changed from that point?
The negotiation began to take on the characteristics of a mystery, with a surprising agreement between Milan and Como for 50 million, which was rendered void by the refusal of the former Real Madrid player.
Milan – Theo; a disappointment?
The full-back has not changed his mind despite the many criticisms from his fans recently: his priority remains playing for Milan. Perhaps with a longer contract than the one currently set to expire in July 2026. The feeling is that, at the moment, the conditions are not right to conclude the negotiation. On one hand, there is the Frenchman’s disappointment with the Como negotiation, and on the other, Milan’s period of reflection, as the club is unsure about committing to such an important economic agreement, especially because, most likely, they will not be able to count on Champions League revenues next season.
In recent days, the 27-year-old’s entourage has made it known that he intends to stay at Milan even without a contract renewal. For the Rossoneri club, the risk of losing one of its most important players for free must be avoided at all costs. A complex, difficult situation that will be resolved by the new sporting director. The new director will be responsible for evaluating Theo Hernandez, whether to continue with a project that still sees the Frenchman at its center with a starring role. That’s why it will take more than a month before the Hernandez case is resolved.