This week, George Rinaldi examines the curious case of AC Milan forward M’Baye Niang. Will the Frenchman be a long term forward or a mere passer-by?
AC Milan were halted in their recent progress up the Serie A standings when held to a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza against Udinese at the weekend. Despite falling a goal behind, M’Baye Niang was on hand to draw them level and secure a point.
Niang is an interesting player. Interesting for a variety of reasons. He seems to have been around for the past ten years in the footballing world, but is currently only 21-years-old. He’s been in Milan since he was 18, but it feels as though he’s graced the field for far longer than that. Spells at Montpellier and Genoa appear far more important than they do on first inspection.
The two aforementioned clubs, besides the Rossoneri, gave Niang that kick-up-the-backside he required to progress as a player. A bit like Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, a progressing player from the initial moment of signing for his “long-term” club. Both went out on loan, both scored a few goals and both returned to play as a regular for their clubs.
Unlike Kane in his breakthrough season which saw him score a gluttony of goals and earn an England call-up, Niang has delved in and out of his brilliance. The France Under-21 international was out of the team until the start of November when the Diavolo were held to a 0-0 draw with Atalanta.
Sinisa Mihajlovic has deployed Niang as a winger in recent weeks, adding a bit more depth and creative intent to supply Carlos Bacca. A couple of weeks later they came up against Sampdoria, with M’Baye now moved to a striking role to play off the shoulder of the Colombian.
For those Milanisti who’ll recall the match, and I doubt many have forgotten, Milan ran away with a 4-1 victory and the Frenchman bagged a brace. Mihajlovic’s prayers had been answered!
Or had they?
Goals were at a premium for the remainder of the calendar year, and it wasn’t until the final day in January that they would witness Niang net again. But such a goal, one that came at the second bite of the cherry against Inter in the Derby della Madonnina, has propelled him into another spate of goalscoring form. He added another in last week’s win over Palermo and then again most recently at home to Udinese.
All the transfer talk of a move to Premier League high-flyers Leicester City had done the trick on the surface, but he played it down, telling Milan News he never wanted to leave anyway.
“I always had Milan in my mind, and only them,” Niang told Milan News recently. “I also told [president] Adriano Galliani and the coach [Sinisa Mihajlovic] I wanted to end the season with the Rossoneri.”
Strong words from Niang, reiterating his pleasure of playing for Milan. But the final line leaves a lot to be desired. Does he simply just want to end THIS season with Milan, and end 2016-17 with another side? Should the fact teams were sniffing around him give Mihajlovic a heads up for a possible exit come the summer?
Even if he didn’t leave to join Leicester, who is to say another offer would have had the same outcome. His goalscoring record is improving, which is the main thing, and it could be the decisive factor for M’Baye’s future. He scores goals, Milan make Europe, he stays. Simple. Right?
He works well with Bacca, there isn’t any doubt about that, mainly down to his dribbling and speed. His injury picked up on Sunday shouldn’t be an issue when Milan visit his former club, Genoa, in what will be an intriguing affair given his past exploits for them.
For now the goals are flowing and it’s great to see, but he could be out the door faster than his burst of pace.
Enjoy him while he remains Milanisti, it may not be as long as you hope.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com