Tijjani Reijnders has ended up in the sights of Manchester City and while AC Milan want to keep him, a huge offer could persuade them.
As Corriere dello Sport recall, Martin Haar – the former coach of AZ Alkmaar – had a clear vision in November 2024: “Today Tijjani is one of the best players at Milan but I think that in one or two years maximum there will be a further leap, I’m sure of it. Real Madrid or Manchester City: this will be his level.”
Sure enough, Reijnders has ended up on Manchester City’s list for next season. Pep Guardiola has identified the Dutchman as an ‘ideal reinforcement’ having noted his extraordinary progress at Milan, with 15 goals this season plus five assists.
Reijnders arrived at Milan in the summer of 2023 for €20.5m and was presented as one of the three purchases that arrived in the Rossoneri thanks to the lucrative sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle. He has very different characteristics compared to the Italian: less grinta, more technique and goals.
It was easy to imagine that Tonali would enter into the heart of Milan fans given he is one of them, but there could have been some doubts about Reijnders. Yet, he took very little to settle into the new reality.
The price to make Milan wobble
In his first season with the Rossoneri, the No.14 achieved a more than decent haul: 50 games played with four goals and four assists. It is in the current one, however, that the statistics have literally exploded: 51 appearances, 15 goals, five assists.
He is the best midfielder in Serie A among the scorers and among the best in Europe in his role. And it is not only the numbers on the scoresheet that confirm his growth. Reijnders, in every game, always shows quality, high-level plays, vision, style and class befitting of… a Guardiola team.
Contacts between the English club and the Diavolo have not taken place yet, just as there have been no discussions involving the entourage of the 26-year-old. However, City will in the coming weeks study the right offer to present in June to Milan and to the boy.
It is likely that it could exceed €70m, a figure that would allow CEO Giorgio Furlani to budget the most profitable transfer in the club’s history, exceeding both the €67m earned from Kakà’s farewell and the little more than €60m that arrived from Tonali ‘s departure.
What would the response of the Milan management be? The rule is always the same: there are no unsellable players. At the right price, everyone can leave. Then there are also further evaluations – certainly not details – that need to be made.
Milan recently protected Reijnders with a contract renewal until 2030 that included a pay rise, electing him as the player around which to build the near future. On a technical level, therefore, it would be advisable not to let him go.
Just as, taking a look at the mood of the Milan environment in general, the possible sale of Reijnders would not be accepted by a large part of the fans.
