Milan damaged by lack of Italian and home grown players | OneFootball

Milan have a growing problem with the lack of Italian players in the squad and that could be very damaging if they do not resolve it soon.

The Rossoneri have several times this season fielded a line-up with at most one Italian in the starting XI, which tends to be either Davide Calabria or Matteo Gabbia.

Having a shortage of homegrown figures is a concern, because the rules in both Serie A and the Champions League require a certain number of players who were formed at the club and who represent their country.

There are four slots representing each of these criteria, although in Serie A those under 22 are not included.

Milan short on Italian players

VERONA, ITALY – MARCH 17: Davide Calabria of AC Milan celebrates with the fans after the team’s victory during the Serie A TIM match between Hellas Verona FC and AC Milan at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on March 17, 2024 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

In the current Milan squad for Serie A, only two players were formed in the academy – Calabria and Gabbia.

Only two were formed in other Italian clubs, Marco Sportiello and Alessandro Florenzi, though both are long-term injury absentees anyway.

It could get even worse, because Calabria and Florenzi are not expected to remain beyond the end of this season.

As things stand, there are four slots set aside in the Milan squad that are not being used because they don’t have enough players fulfilling that criteria.

It could therefore affect the club’s transfer strategy going forward.