Milan off to Riyadh: Allegri faces Napoli minus Gimenez, Leao back | OneFootball

AC Milan's Italian Super Cup mission has officially begun. Today, the Rossoneri squad will depart for Riyadh, where on Thursday evening they will face Antonio Conte's Napoli in the semifinal of the competition.

Milan on the way to Riyadh: Allegri challenges Napoli without Gimenez, but gets Leao back for the Super Cup

A highly prestigious and significant sporting event, marking the start of a crucial phase of the season.

Italian Super Cup: Milan's journey

The semifinal against Napoli represents a decisive crossroads. If victorious, Milan will play for the trophy against the winner of the other semifinal between Bologna and Inter, scheduled for Friday. Massimiliano Allegri, who will speak at a press conference tomorrow at 5pm (Italian time), is preparing for the challenge with great attention, aware of the difficulties but also of the opportunities offered by a high-level knockout match.

Gimenez still out: surgery under consideration

The least encouraging news concerns Santiago Gimenez. The Mexican striker, sidelined for about a month and a half due to an ankle problem, will not take part in the trip to Saudi Arabia. Despite his recent partial return to group training, persistent pain has prevented a full recovery.

In recent days, Gimenez traveled to the Netherlands for a specialist consultation to clarify the most effective therapeutic path. Conservative therapy is not producing the hoped-for results, and the possibility of surgery is now being considered with increasing seriousness.

Gabbia stays at Milanello, but hopes for the final

Matteo Gabbia is also absent, forced to stop after the injury he suffered in the league match against Sassuolo. Tests have ruled out serious injuries but revealed a hyperextension trauma to his left knee. It is a manageable issue in a relatively short time, but enough to prevent him from traveling to Riyadh and being available for the semifinal.

“His recovery remains possible in the event of qualification for the final”: if therapy at Milanello yields positive results, the defender could join the team in Saudi Arabia and at least be available for the bench. Against Napoli, De Winter will take his place.

Leao called up, Fofana recovers

However, there is good news for Allegri. Youssouf Fofana and Rafael Leao will both be called up for the Super Cup. The French midfielder has overcome the muscle problems he suffered in recent weeks and is competing for a starting spot with Ricci and Loftus-Cheek.

For Leao, the situation is more cautious. The Rossoneri number 10, who suffered a right adductor strain against Torino on December 8, is not yet at peak fitness. “It’s unlikely he’ll start against Napoli,” but the possibility of him coming on during the match remains real, as does the chance he could start in a potential final.

Offensive choices and final doubts

Against Napoli, the attacking pair should be Christopher Nkunku, in search of his first goal in a Milan shirt, and Christian Pulisic. The other starters are confirmed, with the only real doubt concerning Luka Modric: the Croatian has played almost constantly and could start from the bench, a complicated but not entirely excluded option given the need to manage energy levels.

The challenge begins

Milan is ready to fly to Saudi Arabia with the goal of lifting their first trophy of the season. Amidst significant absences and crucial recoveries, Allegri is preparing for the semifinal against Napoli by focusing on balance, experience, and smart resource management. The Rossoneri’s Super Cup campaign starts now.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.