Noah Okafor looks like being AC Milan’s sixth signing of the summer as he is currently undergoing his medical, but Hernan Crespo has warned fans not to expect big numbers.
Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday among other sources that Milan will sign Okafor for €13-14m from Red Bull Salzburg and a long-term deal has been agreed with the player.
The Swiss international is characterised by his versatility. In 166 career games he has played 64 times as a centre-forward, another 64 as a left winger and 38 as a right winger.
With Salzburg he scored 34 goals in 100 games, with 14 goals and 11 assists being his most prolific season (2021-22), but he has never been a striker to put up the numbers of other targets like Mehdi Taremi.
Crespo was interviewed by La Gazzetta dello Sport and his words were published in this morning’s edition (seen below), as he gave his thoughts on the latest attacking addition for Milan.
What do you think of Okafor?
“I know him well, I scouted him in several games. He is a striker who does a lot of movement, capable of acting both on the wings and in the middle.
“However, let’s say it right away to prevent the fans from deluding themselves, he’s not a classic centre-forward and he doesn’t have many goals in his DNA.
“He has never played in the Italian league, which is the toughest in the world for strikers and someone who has experienced it on his own skin tells you that, and I would be happy for Milan if he managed a haul of ten goals.”
A gamble, not the certainty people expected…
“Yes. But bets can also be won, it’s not said that you always have to lose them… Milan doesn’t have the budget to buy super champions and so they focus on elements that aren’t very well known and try to enhance them.”
A virtuous policy, but that does not convince some…
“With this policy, let’s not forget, Milan won the Scudetto in 2022 and reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2023. Who knew Tomori and Kalulu, just to name two, before they exploded in the Scudetto season?
“In today’s football, which is increasingly based on the team, if you don’t have Mbappè or Haaland, which Milan can’t afford, you have to focus on game organization and aggression.”
It seems the path that Pioli wants to follow…
“And it’s good because if you’re organised, you press, if you steal the ball in the attacking zone then you’re more likely to annoy your opponents. Pioli has positive ideas, let him work in peace. And maybe it will make Okafor a number one.”
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