Why Alessio Cerci Is Not a Saviour for AC Milan
January 1, 2015
On the surface, the swap looks like a heist. Atletico Madrid took on Fernando Torres and AC Milan received Alessio Cerci in return: a toothless striker for Serie A’s best playmaker from the previous season.
But the move was an admission of failure by both clubs. Neither summer transfer worked out. Torres scored just once in 10 appearances; Cerci started only a single game for the Spanish champions.
To facilitate the deal, Milan bought Torres on a permanent basis from Chelsea, per BBC Sport, and loaned him out immediately to Atletico. The Rossoneri will continue to pay the rest of his wages, per Gianluca Di Marzio, and Atletico will cover Cerci’s.
Milan aren’t spending any more money, but they’re not exactly saving either. Torres makes almost €2 million more than Cerci.
On the plus side, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani turned an older striker who has not been himself for years into an established Serie A winger with upside. Milan will have Cerci on loan for the next 18 months at no additional cost. They avoided paying a transfer fee for Torres and avoided paying the €15 million that Atletico shelled out for Cerci.
But then there is the fine print: According to Di Marzio, Atletico hold the right to sell Cerci in the summer if an offer arrives. Milan themselves do not have any option to buy Cerci. The loan expires in the summer of 2016, but his contract ends in 2017. Milan would have to re-negotiate any further deal with Atletico.
The deal is also complicated in that Cerci’s rights are not solely owned by Atletico. A Qatari fund has the other half. So Milan have now entered the tricky waters of third-party ownerships, which FIFA is working on banning.
Cerci’s future with Milan is very much conditional on several variables. If he plays well, the price goes up. If he doesn’t, then it’s another forgettable move. Either way, this particular transfer has the look of a bandage, and it’s not good for either party.
Milan doesn't have an option on Cerci- it isn't really a coup. He does well, they can't afford him. He does poor...well, then who cares
— Aaron Giambattista (@agiamba) December 28, 2014
Milan have made a living off these kinds of negotiations, with Galliani using his friends in high places to squeeze temporary deals and discounts.
Besides, Milan are only correcting a problem they created when they took on Torres. That Galliani has flipped him for a player like Cerci is commendable, but it would not have been necessary if Milan simply bought a real replacement for Mario Balotelli, which still hasn’t happened. Jeremy Menez has scored some goals and penalties, but he is still a false nine.
Cerci only adds to the stack of wingers Milan already have. What they need is a true centre-forward. Giampaolo Pazzini is not consistent enough, and Milan don’t really have anyone else.
Cerci does offer cover for Keisuke Honda, who will miss January while playing with Japan in the Asian Cup, but what happens after that is messy.
Stephan El Shaarawy is apparently the future and Giacomo Bonavenutra is only getting better. What happens to Honda when he returns? Does Cerci even start? Coach Pippo Inzaghi has a wealth of options in the wrong place.
Maybe it’s time to switch formations. A 4-2-3-1 formation accommodates all of Milan’s attacking options. But that’s just it: There are more questions than answers now. Cerci doesn’t solve anything.