Saelemaekers reborn under Motta – latest on his future with €10m at stake for Milan

Bologna continue to win and have found themselves legitimately in the race for a top four finish, and Alexis Saelemaekers is enjoying a new lease of life.

Calciomercato.com recall that Saelemaekers had yet another convincing performance during Bologna’s win over Salernitana at the weekend that stands in complete contrast to the difficult times he had towards the end of his time at Milan.

Of the yellow cards shown by the referee Sozza to Salernitana, six were the work of the Belgian who drew foulds from Tchaouna, Mazzocchi, Dia, Daniliuc, Gyomber and Kastanos. He is now playing in a proactive way with ‘mental freedom’, and Thiago Motta is enjoying having someone like him on the right.

However, it must also be noted that Milan let Saelemaekers go in the summer and they did so in a reasoned manner. The need to find a player who could bring international experience on the right wing and above all the search for someone more incisive in front of goal led Moncada and Furlani and made the choice fall on Christian Pulisic, with Samuel Chukwueze behind him to add quality depth.

There was no more space for Saelemaekers and therefore he was forced to find somewhere else to play, joining Bologna on a €500k paid loan with a €10m option to buy. He is doing well in Emilia-Romagna, but that amount for the option to buy is very expensive in the eyes of the Rossoblu.

The player’s desire to stay could be crucial and a lot will depend on where Bologna end up at the end of the season: an excellent finish could give a boost to their ambitions and spending €10m could be possible. Otherwise, it will have to be renegotiated.