Milan Transfer Market: A Standoff Over Santiago Gimenez
Santiago Gimenez does not appear on the roster submitted by Milan to the League. The Mexican forward has now recovered from his physical issues, but he is no longer part of the club’s plans and continues to train separately. Porto has stepped forward with an offer of a free loan with an option to buy set at 15 million euros. The Rossoneri, however, are aiming for a paid loan accompanied by a mandatory buyout clause of 20 million. There remains a significant gap between the two clubs, although the desire to finalize the separation could facilitate an agreement.
Further complicating the picture is the stance of the player’s father, Christian Gimenez, who commented on the situation to FOX Mexico: “We’re in negotiations; Porto has made an initial offer, which Milan hasn’t accepted. As the talks proceed… It’s a great opportunity… It’s a great opportunity that’s coming at a time that isn’t exactly positive, after the year he’s had, with all the injuries. Many people talk about Santi’s stats, but they don’t mention that he’s been injured for the past seven months… This is another aspect that can’t be ignored. But the reality is that a team like Porto wanting to sign him at such a difficult time is a very positive thing.” These remarks confirm that Gimenez has already given the green light to the transfer to Portugal, having reached a personal agreement with the Portuguese club on a contract running through 2030.
It’s worth noting that Milan had acquired the Mexican from Feyenoord for over 30 million euros just a year and a half ago, which explains the Rossoneri’s reluctance to accept terms deemed too onerous. The Milan-based club does not want to incur an excessive capital loss and aims to recoup at least 20 million from his sale.
Meanwhile, Gerry Cardinale has returned to Milanello to speed up the transfer process, meeting in person with the players set to leave. The Gimenez case is just one of several pending issues: the Rossoneri owner must also deal with the situations involving Fikayo Tomori, Christopher Nkunku, Youssouf Fofana, and Rafael Leao—all players whose departures are necessary to finance the latest signings sought by Ruben Amorim. The club’s overall goal is to recoup over 100 million euros from player sales, and finalizing the Gimenez deal is a key part of this plan.
