Why sell Boateng?

FAN ARTICLE by Kay Delaverro.

All the early summer mercato talk has been centered around Keisuke Honda, Adam Ljajic and the sale of Robinho. But hearing that Kevin Prince Boateng and El Shaarawy were also up for sale was the final piece to the puzzle, that can help us all conclude that management has simply lost it. Adriano Galliani has been in Milan for many years and has had a reputation as a transfer Guru, but it’s become more and more clear that he is simply not perhaps the man he used to be.

For those who may be unaware by now, Galliani is Milan. That’s just it. He acts as President because Berlusconi is hardly as ever present as he used to, he is the Public Relations Officer and that’s why he is always the one answering questions in the media.

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For this reason, you must be prepared to keep hearing comments like ‘we won more points than any other team since January’, ‘we are the best club in the world, we are complete as we are’, among other quotes. He is Milan’s number one fan and is always present during matches. He is the one who also decides contract terms with the players regarding who stays and who goes. He is also the one in charge of transfers. He is the Milan Historian who reminds us that the trophies we have won in Europe are more than that of any team. Perhaps all these positions are too much for one person and it’s time to shed some responsibilities to others. And to say Milan are changing formation for next season because of the signing of Saponara is just ridiculous. Is he Iniesta or Ozil?  We all know he will hardly start games much more change an entire formation because of him.

So then again the question remains; Why is Milan reportedly looking to sell Boateng? The answer to this brings out even more disturbing questions like ‘Why was Christian Zaccardo signed at age 31 on a 4yr deal only to play less than 90 minutes. Why was Poland International Salamon Bartosz signed with no game time? Why was Didac Vila signed with only one game to his name? Why was Urby Emanuelson played as a trequartista, central midfielder and right – sided striker and yet has never started a game as a left back? Why did management say he was going to play his natural left back position the next season and never happened? Why the Ibra and Silva sales after confirming their stay? And finally, why sell Boateng after a poor season, after he was made to play as a False No. 9 (seriously??), as a trequartista and later as a winger?

When KPB first arrived in Milan, he was nicknamed “train without breaks” by the players because of the energy he possessed and never stopped running. In his first season, he was a bit part player because Milan made an astonishing 14 signings in that campaign alone. Some notable transfers included Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Antonio Cassano, Mark Van Bommel, Urby Emanuelson, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Nicola Legrottaglie, promoted Alexander Merkel and Rodney Strasser, Marco Amelia, Mario Yepes,  Didac Vila et al. The team already had Pirlo, Seedorf and Ronaldinho to provide attacking threats. KPB would finish the season with 3 goals in 26 league matches.

In his next season though, KPB danced his way into a prominent Milan figure, just as he had done his Michael Jackson moonwalk celebration at the San Siro after being crowned Serie A champions. The then 24 yr old midfielder scored an impressive 9 goals in 27 matches only. That would be a goal in every 3 games. He suffered many injuries though and so made only 19 Serie A appearances. Who can forget his wonderful goals against Arsenal and Barcelona. What about his 14 minute hat-trick, when Milan were simply down and out by 3 – 0, in a game away to Lecce. He scored 3 goals of the highest quality before the 63 minute, making him only the second player in the history of Serie A, to score a hat-trick after coming off the bench.

Too many summer sales last season caused a lot of players to struggle with only El Shaarawy apparently benefitting from the player sales. Next season will be very difficult especially in Europe and at this rate, failure to make a mark in Europe will make our only few stars leave while attracting other stars will be difficult. As a matter of fact, even fighting for a top 3 finish will not be easy either and if we don’t, well Mino Raiola’s comments is enough to show that Balotelli will certainly not end his career in Milan.

Juventus are almost certain of a top 3 finish and with Benitez, Napoli fancy their chances too. Lazio are keeping hold of Hernanes while adding Lucas Biglia and Felipe Anderson makes then favorites for Europe too. Then there is Fiorentina who are still pushing for a goal getter like Mario Gomez and Roma who are courting Nani. Buying Adam  Ljajic and Honda is shrewd but it should not mean reducing the depth in the squad. The likes of Madrid may have Ozil, Kaka, Di Maria, Modric, Alonso, Ronaldo, Khedira and Isco as midfielders and that shows depth in squad.

A proper use of Boateng is at least on the same level as Arturo Vidal of Juventus and so Milan must not only think about players in the starting 11 but also those on the bench. He played as a CM in the world cup for Ghana so why not use him there? Is Poli better than KPB? The only wrong thing about Kevin is the number 10 shirt he wears but besides that nothing.

On the side note, Allegri must really up his game this time and I partly blame him for our lack of depth. In a match that was all but over at half time against Pescara, one would have thought Bryan Cristante or Salamon Bartosz will make an appearance but enter Pazzini and Bakaye Traoré.

All the best Milan