AC Milan are reportedly attempting to re-sign Fabio Liberali, a year after allowing his contract to expire, prompting reflection on other promising youth players who departed the club. The move for Liberali, according to reports in the Italian press, signals a potential shift in the club’s approach to developing young talent. While not every departure represents a failure in assessment, the cases highlight the complexities behind decisions to release promising players.
Liberali, a midfielder, impressed at the Under-19 European Championship and is currently without a club after his Milan deal lapsed. The club’s current pursuit suggests a re-evaluation of his potential, though the reasons for his initial departure remain unclear. Several other players have followed a similar trajectory, leaving Milan only to flourish elsewhere.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is among those who progressed after leaving the Rossoneri’s youth system. The Gabon international joined Milan as a youth player in 2007 but moved to Lille in 2008, ultimately establishing himself as a prolific goalscorer for clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, and Chelsea. His career demonstrates the potential that Milan may have missed in its early stages.
Other players who have found success after leaving Milan include Davide Bellanova, currently at Torino, and Bryan Cristante, a key midfielder for Roma. Both players developed through Milan’s youth academy but were unable to secure consistent first-team opportunities. Matteo Darmian, now at Inter Milan, also began his career with the Rossoneri before establishing himself as a Serie A regular.
More recently, Milan allowed Milos Kerkez to depart, with the Hungarian left-back quickly becoming a standout performer for AZ Alkmaar and now Bournemouth. Manuel Locatelli, currently at Juventus, is another example of a player who left Milan and subsequently developed into a prominent Serie A player. Locatelli spent time on loan at various clubs before establishing himself as a key player for Sassuolo and earning a move to Juventus.
The club’s attempts to bring Liberali back suggest a potential acknowledgement of past decisions and a renewed focus on nurturing homegrown talent. Whether this represents a significant change in strategy remains to be seen, but the cases of Aubameyang, Bellanova, Cristante, Darmian, Kerkez, and Locatelli serve as reminders of the potential that can slip through a club’s fingers.
