The final transfer of the winter switch window for AC Milan was the signing of Riccardo Sottil, and given the opposite additions he could go extra beneath the radar.
As report and as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s phrases yesterday confirmed, the Sottil operation was closed a minute and a half earlier than the deadline, however simply why did the Rossoneri administration insist proper till the top?
When pondering of Riccardo many Italian soccer followers who’re maybe a bit older consider Andrea Sottil, his father who’s a former Serie A defender and now a great stage coach. Nevertheless, his son is making a reputation for himself and the acquisition by Milan proves it.
The 1999-born ahead was at Genoa and Torino till he was 16 earlier than transferring to the Fiorentina youth sector the place he matured as a footballer and the place he was thought of a fantastic expertise in Italian soccer.
After a six-month mortgage to Pescara and a primary season with La Viola, he made his first leap in high quality throughout a season with Cagliari. At 21 years previous he scored 4 objectives and added two assists in 24 video games in Serie A.
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Cagliari used their choice to purchase him however his efficiency ranges meant that Fiorentina used their buy-back to maintain management. Now, although, after 4 and a half seasons with 138 appearances and 15 objectives to his identify.
His technical traits are fairly outlined: Sottil is a really fast right-footer who performs on the left and loves dribbling. These peculiarities make him comparable when it comes to kind of footballer to Rafael Leao, of whom he arrives at Milan, on paper, to be the deputy to.
By way of angle, he’s very a lot appreciated for his aggressive spirit which generally takes him just a little past the bounds, even together with his teammates: on the second day of the 2022 summer season retreat in Moena with Fiorentina he argued with Nico Gonzalez.
Nevertheless, all the pieces stays on the pitch, as he himself had specified: “Competitiveness exists in all soccer groups, these items have occurred since soccer was invented, many extra will occur: these are regular issues when there’s competitiveness.”
The actual Achilles heel, in distinction to what has been seen at youth stage, is his lack of objectives as a winger. He typically manages to create harmful conditions however just isn’t in a position to end. The one 20 objectives in 174 skilled video games are a really clear reality, however this season he has already struck 5 instances.
Definitely, transferring from the out-of-form Okafor seen this yr to a vigorous and keen participant like Sottil might be optimistic on paper for Sergio Conceicao. Accidents is also a pink flag: 12 within the final 5 seasons, none this yr. From 2020-21 to as we speak he has missed a complete of 68 video games.