Is Manuel Locatelli Ready to Replace Riccardo Montolivo in AC Milan’s Midfield?

In football, innocuous moments can change careers for better or worse. AC Milan’s Riccardo Montolivo obtained a full understanding of the game’s flighty nature during the recent international break, which he went into as a starter for Italy and exited with a long-term injury.

Playing for the Azzurri in a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Spain in Turin, the midfielder was tackled by Sergio Ramos as he prepared to cross the ball. The Milan captain was unable to continue after the challenge and was replaced by club-mate Giacomo Bonaventura after 30 minutes.

After the match the damage was confirmed, per a statement on Milan’s official website:

AC Milan announces that Riccardo Montolivo underwent medical surgery this morning for the reconstruction of his left knee anterior cruciate ligament.

The surgeon Professor Doctor Herbert Schoenhuber is satisfied with the result of the surgery.

The recovery time will be five to six months, unless complications arise.

For the 31-year-old, the injury is a serious disruption that will see him sidelined for a prolonged period. This also means that, at least until the transfer window next opens in January, Milan will have to find a replacement to operate at the base of Vincenzo Montella’s three-man midfield.

Fortunately they may not need to wait to find a successful stand-in, as 18-year-old youth-team graduate Manuel Locatelli may already be prepared to step into his more experienced colleague’s shoes.

Montolivo was deployed as Milan’s deep-lying midfielder by Sinisa Mihajlovic last season primarily due to a lack of alternative options. He continued in the same role upon Montella’s arrival, though his form has been far from impressive. Consequently, the player has occasionally been jeered by fans and, prior to his injury, he found his place in the starting lineup under scrutiny.

In Milan’s most recent Serie A fixture, a home game against Sassuolo, Montolivo was taken off on the hour mark to be replaced by Locatelli. The substitution had a certain symbolism to it—the old making way for the new—which was only reinforced by the events that would subsequently unfold.

Locatelli entered the match with the score at 3-1 to Sassuolo. Milan, having taken a 1-0 lead on nine minutes, had imploded alarmingly, conceding two goals in the early stages of the second half to stand on the verge of a disappointing defeat.

However, a Carlos Bacca penalty pulled one goal back before Locatelli left his mark on the game in the most stunning way imaginable.

On 73 minutes, Milan won a corner kick. Bonaventura swung in a cross, only for it to be headed away by a Sassuolo defence that had gone from resolute to panicky. The ball bobbled away from the penalty box, bouncing twice before Locatelli arrived. Connecting …

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