AC Milan has announced that Dutch international midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has signed a contract extension through the summer of 2030, much to the delight of Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. Men’s National Team star and Reijnders’ Rossoneri teammate was quick to congratulate him on social media after the news was revealed. Resharing Milan’s Instagram post to his Story, Pulisic simply wrote, “Well deserved,” along with a series of clapping emojis. Reijnders and Pulisic have regularly started alongside one another since the former joined in 2023 from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
During his time in Milan, Reijnders has been a pivotal figure under head coaches Stefano Pioli, Paulo Fonseca, and now Sergio Conceicao, making 90 appearances and scoring 16 goals in all competitions. His 12 goals this campaign are tied for the most among his teammates together with Pulisic.
“I am grateful to have renewed my contract with this club. I can’t wait to live the next few years together with Milan,” Reijnders said on his Instagram when sharing the news.
It may have been a day of celebration for Reijnders and Pulisic, but it comes amidst a tough spell for Milan. Having recently been knocked out of the Champions League in the playoff round by Dutch side Feyenoord, the team has since lost three in a row in Serie A against Torino, Bologna, and most recently Lazio thanks to a 98th minute penalty from Pedro.
Having dropped to ninth in the table, some six points behind Bologna in the final European qualification spot and 11 behind Juventus in the fourth and final Champions League spot, the outlook is bleak for Conceicao and Co. On Saturday they’ll have a chance to bounce back against strugglers Lecce, before they host Cesc Fabregas’ Como on March 15.
There is potential light on the horizon for Milan, however, with the Coppa Italia semifinals against Inter Milan swiftly approaching on April 2 and 23. Despite the team’s dire season, a win in the Italian Cup would mark its second silverware of the year, having already claimed the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter in January.
That being said, Conceicao’s position could already be under pressure, with former Milan star Mauro Tassotti linked with the position in a temporary capacity “should the situation worsen,” according to Corriere Della Sera.
“The moment is not easy at all, we know that. The players feel what is going on around the club,” Conceicao recently admitted. “There is only one way: to work and have the maximum pride for these colors that we defend, giving our all every day to change the situation. There are also episodes that happen during the match, negative for us and decisive for the opponent, but I don’t want to talk about bad luck.”
Conceicao went on to add that his side had “prepared the match in a very short time, we talked about this environment and it was strange, first time it’s happened to me in my career.”
He added: “The players feel it. It’s not easy: when a dribble, a pass isn’t right and the opponent scores… The team showed great character when they were down to ten men, we could have even won. In the end, this penalty happened.”
