AC Milan face summer challenge as Musah and Bennacer set for returns
AC Milan will see midfielders Yunus Musah and Ismael Bennacer return to the club this summer after their loan spells at Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb respectively ended without permanent deals being triggered. According to reports from Italy, Atalanta have decided against paying the 25 million euro option to buy for Musah, while Dinamo Zagreb have similarly declined their 15 million euro option for Bennacer. Both players are now expected back at Milanello in June, but they are considered outside the club's sporting project, leaving the Rossoneri management with the task of finding them new clubs.
Yunus Musah, 21, joined Milan from Valencia in the summer of 2023 for a fee of 20 million euros plus bonuses. He was sent on loan to Atalanta last August after starting the opening Serie A match against Lecce. His season in Bergamo has been underwhelming, with the American international making 26 appearances but starting only five games. He scored twice, including a crucial goal in the Coppa Italia semi-final against Lazio, but remained a peripheral figure under both coaches Marco Juric and Raffaele Palladino. Milan will now seek a permanent sale, with potential interest from mid-table Premier League clubs or a possible return to La Liga, though recouping the initial investment may prove difficult.
Ismael Bennacer, 26, is poised to win the Croatian league title with Dinamo Zagreb before his return. The Algerian midfielder has made 13 appearances for Dinamo, contributing one goal and two assists, but failed to fully convince during a season also hampered by a month-long injury absence in February and his omission from the Europa League squad. This follows a previous loan spell at Marseille that also did not become permanent. Bennacer's high salary, reported to be around 4 million euros net per year, complicates any potential move. Sources suggest Saudi Arabia could be a plausible destination, as a return to a top European club appears unlikely given his inconsistent form in recent seasons.
The situation presents a significant challenge for Milan's directors, who had hoped to generate substantial funds from loan exits with obligations to buy. The combined 40 million euros that would have been secured from these two deals will now not materialize. Instead, the club must orchestrate sales in a competitive market for players who have not enhanced their value during their loan spells. The returns of Musah and Bennacer will add to a crowded midfield roster, likely accelerating the need for outgoing transfers to reshape the squad for the next campaign under coach Paulo Fonseca.
