Alarm at San Siro: Milan's record signing is invisible when the Rossoneri need him most
The most expensive signing in AC Milan's history was supposed to fix their attack. Right now, he is the symbol of its problems.
Details: Gonçalo Ramos has not registered a single shot on target in his last three matches for Milan, and in the 0:2 Europa League home defeat to Benfica the Portuguese striker lost possession 16 times. The numbers, highlighted by Football Italia, deepen the gloom after a night to forget at San Siro.
Milan paid a club-record fee in excess of 70 million euros to prise Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain in June, a two-time Champions League winner brought in to be the spearhead of Rúben Amorim's new project. The start promised fireworks, an early goal against Venezia suggested a perfect fit, but the well has run dry at the worst possible moment. Wednesday's defeat to Benfica, the Lisbon side's first ever victory over Milan in European competition, encapsulated the malaise: Ramos, playing against the club where he was forged and facing the nation of his coach, was a ghost, bullied off the ball 16 times without testing the goalkeeper once. Amorim had boldly declared the Europa League a target on the eve of the match, and instead his expensively assembled attack, with Pulisic only fit enough for the bench, fired blanks in front of a restless San Siro. It is far too early for verdicts on a 25-year-old of Ramos' pedigree, but in Milan, patience with record signings has historically been short.
It's worth noting that Ramos scored a famous World Cup hat-trick for Portugal against Switzerland in 2022, replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup that night.
Reminder: No more hiding: Amorim openly declares Milan's European ambition on the eve of Benfica clash.
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
