In the leadup to the January window, AC Milan seemed destined to sign a new central defender, given the amount of injuries in the position. However, instead of purchasing someone, they recalled Matteo Gabbia to bridge the gap, which paid off massively.
The defensive injuries before January deeply harmed Milan’s chances of a successful season, given the volume and severity of injuries. As a result, it became clear that the Rossoneri had to reinforce the position when they had the chance to do so.
Matteo Gabbia seemed destined to return to the club as the injuries continued. Nevertheless, very few could have imagined the impact he would have since returning to the club.
Instantly, the Diavolo seemed more assured in defence, with a more experienced head partnering Simon Kjaer or Theo Hernandez, and whilst he did not steal headlines, he consistently played well, which has potentially made the upcoming summer easier.
With Kjaer’s future at the club unsure, there is a need for his role in the side to be replaced, and Gabbia could fill that role next season.
In an interview with SportWeek, Yacine Adli praised the defender for how he managed the struggles of not playing and his impact after his return.
“Who surprised me? Gabbia. Last year, he played very little, though even more than me [laughs], but he did not give up. Then he went to Villarreal and came back with a lot more confidence.”
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