Plenty of clubs are interested in Alexis Saelemaekers, but rather than considering a sale AC Milan want to extend his stay.
Saelemaekers spent last season on loan at Roma and had a brilliant second half of the campaign, becoming a regular starting wing-back under Claudio Ranieri. They wanted to make the dry loan permanent, but Milan brought him back to base.
Renewal on the cards?
Calciomercato.com report that – with his experience in the capital behind him – the Belgian has returned to the Rossoneri with the aim of carving out his space in Massimiliano Allegri’s plans. He does not want to be a supporting player either, and instead is aiming for a ‘leading role’.
It’s a mission that got off to a good start, because Saelemaekers’ characteristics matched the new coach’s ideas well. The club took note and took action, because they will begin discussing Saelemaekers’ contract renewal in the coming weeks.
Saelemaekers arrived at the Rossoneri in January 2020 and is currently tied to the club with a two-year contract, until June 2027. His currently salary is around €1m net per season, which becomes €1.31m gross because he benefits from the Growth Decree.
In recent weeks, after Roma, further interest has arrived from the Premier League, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa above all. Juventus also explored the idea of signing him as part of an operation that would see Dusan Vlahovic move to Milan.
None of this has happened and will happen: Milan consider the 26-year-old as a part of their plans moving forward, thanks in part to Allegri’s esteem. The coach is convinced of the former Anderlecht player’s qualities, which he has tested in training and in various pre-season friendlies.
The Belgian is appreciated for his versatility, able to operate equally well on either flank, playing in various roles and with different tasks: attacking the space in behind, cutting towards the middle of the pitch, and helping double team in defence.
