Nice interview between Luca Diddi and Nicolas Cariglia, two match analysts who used to work for Serie A clubs, discussing possible names for our midfield:
Luca Diddi
What’s the right name for Milan’s midfield? Who should be the fulcrum of the Rossoneri’s engine room? There are plenty of names flying around – let’s take a closer look. This part of the pitch will be crucial for the rebirth of the new Milan. We need players who fit Allegri’s ideas and the club’s goals: winning again, fast. And for that, you need real players – mature, proven players.
And here’s my guest: the great
Nicolas Cariglia. We know each other well, and we’ve shared some experiences in calcio too. So, let’s talk about Milan’s midfield. I’d start with the latest youngster: Javi Guerra, born in 2003, played for Spain’s U21. Give me your take, then I’ll share mine.
Nicolas Cariglia
Technically, he’s a solid player. He’s a bit of an atypical Spaniard – he’s got the classic Spanish midfielder’s vision and ball control, trained at Villarreal’s academy (one of the best in Spain), then moved to Valencia. But Guerra’s special in that he fits Allegri’s profile – he’s at least 1.85m tall. Allegri likes physical midfielders.
He hasn’t scored many goals – five or six over the last two seasons – but goal output depends on your role. Barella under Inzaghi could score nine or just three, depending on his tasks. If Allegri uses Guerra in a 4-3-1-2 as a trequartista, maybe he gets more goals. But who is Guerra, really? Every player has a best role. For me, he’s a "pressing breaker" – someone who can carry the ball under pressure, like Thuram at Juve. Not a pure regista, but he can play that role. He can play as a mezzala too. He could pair well with someone like Fofana. But for me, Guerra alone doesn’t complete the midfield.
Luca Diddi
Agreed. I have my doubts about Guerra. He’s young, inconsistent. His best games came in November and June – the rest of the year was up and down. Three goals and three assists this season, 80% pass accuracy, five ball recoveries per game. He’s talented, but I see more Fabregas than Allegri in him. He’s used to playing in a double pivot, both at Valencia and with Spain. Giving him the keys to the midfield – in Serie A, with all the pressure and criticism – is risky. Milan needs experience in those roles. Youngsters should complement, not anchor the system.
Nicolas Cariglia
Exactly. First, we need to understand what kind of midfield Allegri wants. It also depends on the attackers. If you’ve got someone like Leão, who doesn’t track back much, you need protection behind him. So, you need Fofana, Xhaka, and a third midfielder who can do both phases. I’m thinking of someone like Modric – experienced, reliable, doesn’t have to start every game, but can play them all. Guerra can fit in that context. But you need that experienced core.
Luca Diddi
Physically, Guerra is 1.87m, but Xhaka is 1.85m – they’re similar. But Xhaka is more Allegri-style: experienced, used to the San Siro pressure, consistent. 49 games, 2 goals, 7 assists, 91% passing, six ball recoveries. He plays both phases. That’s why Leao’s best season came when Milan had Kessie covering for him. You can’t have Reijnders and Leao up front with no coverage. Allegri will factor all that in. I’d build around Xhaka and use Guerra as a mezzala – maybe. But then I’d rather look at someone like Jashari from Brugge: 22 years old, 1.80m, box-to-box. I watched him yesterday after we talked.
Nicolas Cariglia
Yeah, but he’s expensive – around 40 to 45M. Technically solid, strong in both phases. And as you told me – I don’t know if it was in a video or just yesterday – he managed to shut down Ederson from Atalanta this season. Not many can do that. I watched Jude Bellingham struggle against Ederson in Bergamo – so Jashari clearly has quality.
But with players like Leao and Pulisic up front – assuming Leao stays – you already have guys who can give you 10+ goals and assists. Add a striker like Vlahovic, Retegui, or maybe keep Jiménez – you’re covered. You don’t need a 15-goal midfielder like Reijnders. One who gives you 6–7 is enough. Guerra could grow into that. Modric adds something. Stability comes from Fofana and Xhaka. I’m not Allegri’s biggest fan, but with two or three good signings, he can organise this team. Especially with just the league to focus on.
Luca Diddi
Exactly. So if you get Xhaka – who must start – and Fofana, then Guerra becomes a cheaper alternative to Jashari. Sure, Jashari is a big investment and might be worth 70 to 75M in two years. He’s got huge upside. And like you said – shutting down Ederson isn’t something you see every day. So maybe we build a midfield that’s a little less flashy but frees up our offensive transitions. Another idea: if we save money on midfield, maybe invest more in a left-back, especially with Theo potentially leaving.
Say we get someone like Jorrel Hato from Ajax – 19 years old, reminds me of Nuno Mendes. Farioli moved him from centre-back to left-back. He does both phases well. Sure, he’s expensive – but that’s the price for top talents nowadays.
Nicolas Cariglia
Good players are everywhere in Europe. If they’re coached well and scouted properly, they can shine. The perfect example: Napoli. They lost Mertens, Insigne and Koulibaly. Then brought in Kvaratskhelia and Kim – total unknowns – and won the league. I’d never even heard of Kvaratskhelia before he came to Italy.
Luca Diddi
And they paid just 12M.
Nicolas Cariglia
Exactly – 12M. After losing their all-time top scorer (Mertens), their captain (Insigne), and one of their greatest centre-backs (Koulibaly). If you get the context right, players like Hato or Jashari can flourish. And Allegri knows how to create the right environment – if he’s supported properly. Tare could be crucial. Milan’s had massive gaps in management. He can help pull the pieces together.
So, if you picture a midfield with Fofana, Xhaka and one of Modric or Guerra – that’s a solid base. Maybe you add a youth player from the U23 or Primavera to round out the numbers. But if I don’t want to overspend on midfield, I’d look at investing in a proper left-back or centre-back. Pavlovic doesn’t convince me in a back four – maybe under Gasperini, yes, but not under Allegri. Allegri needs thinkers in defence – not just instinctive players. I’d look for someone more suited to his style.
Luca Diddi
Someone like Leoni – he’s been doing really well.
Nicolas Cariglia
He’s very good. But he’s a 2006. I doubt Allegri will trust him as a starter all season. You’d need to pair him with a 32-year-old veteran so he can grow. Tomori is there – and then you’ve got balance. I’ll say this – I love when Italian teams invest in Italian players. I grew up with that mindset. Juve did it. Inter’s doing it with Bastoni, Darmian, Dimarco, Barella. It helps build a long-term core. Italian players see Serie A as the destination, not a stepping stone. That loyalty builds cycles.
Luca Diddi
Right. Seeing someone like Coppola go to Brighton for 12M – that hurts. Leoni needs to be protected, not burdened. With Allegri, you need to defend deeper. You don’t need speed – you need physicality, aerial strength, awareness. That’s why Leoni fits. But he needs experience next to him. San Siro is brutal for young players. In a different Milan moment – coming off a Scudetto – maybe I’d say let’s bet on youth. But now? Caution is key. The youngster must be introduced gradually, in the right role, at the right time, with experienced players around him.
To close things off – let’s each give one final name for Milan’s midfield. Mine? Richard Ríos from Palmeiras. He can play like Guerra – mezzala or playmaker. He’s 25, Colombian international, mature, solid. 80–85% pass accuracy, 6 ball recoveries per game. That’s close to Hjulmand, Europe’s top ball-winner, who averages 7. Ríos would cost 20 to 25M. Pair him with Xhaka, Fofana and maybe Guerra – that’s a strong midfield. And it frees Leao to do what he does best: attack.
Nicolas Cariglia
For me, a complete midfield needs all kinds of profiles. Guerra doesn’t score much. Fofana doesn’t either. Xhaka has a few. So I’d add a big, physical midfielder who can do both phases – ideally better offensively – and who can still grow defensively. Italian. U20 World Cup Golden Ball winner. My name is Cesare Casadei. Torino got him for 14M. Massive potential. Inter had to let him go because of financial reasons. He ended up in Chelsea’s overloaded squad, then had to go on loan to Reading. Now he’s at Torino. He’s got goals, timing, size. He’s a 2002, so still young. And people who know him say he’s humble, a hard worker, obsessed with football.
Luca Diddi
I agree. We’ve got to develop Italian talent. The U21 squad is doing well, and many of them have played abroad. That broadens their outlook and builds different mentalities. Casadei fits Allegri’s vision: physical, tactical, grounded. He may not excite fans right away, but he’s the kind of player who helps build a real project.