Milan did not sign a new defender in January despite being linked with a number of choices, but one of their own, Malick Thiaw, will return from injury soon. On November 28, the defender suffered a significant thigh injury. Corriere della Sera reports that he will return in around 20 days (via Fantacalcio).
The German center-back is the only one with a set schedule. Instead, it’s too early to tell for Fikayo Tomori and Pierre Kalulu. The latter required surgery and will take a long time to mend.
Thiaw is provisionally aiming the Europa League match against Rennes on February 22nd. He is treating a myotendinous lesion of the biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. In the interim, Milan will rely on Matteo Gabbia, Simon Kjaer, Jan-Carlo Simic, and Theo Hernandez.
In his most recent pre-game press conference, coach Stefano Pioli addressed why the club did not sign a new defender.
“It didn’t happen because the options didn’t fit our needs. We were looking for a quality piece that was familiar with the League and ready right away. Marco Pellegrino needs to play and would have struggled to do that with us.”
Our Take on Milan and Thiaw
Their position was fair, but their rearguard has become creaky in recent weeks. Perhaps they might have settled for a veteran on loan to provide one more dependable man while the exigency subsided.
