AC Milan have joined the hunt for Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao and are looking to sign his services before the January window closes, according to new reports this week.
Several news outlets including AS reported that new Milan boss Clarence Seedorf spoke to higher-ups at the club to request a left-back. Seedorf, who won the Champions League twice with the Nezzarossi during his 10 years at the club,
New Milan boss Clarence Seedorf, who won the Champions League twice with the Nezzarossi during his 10 years at the club, asked senior officials to purchase reinforcements to salvage a difficult season. Milan currently sit in ninth place and a whopping 28 points behind Serie A leaders Juventus.
Several news outlets including AS reported that at Seedorf’s request for a left-back, Milan official Adriano Galliani contacted Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who himself spent eight successful years with the Italian giants.
Coentrao seems to want away from the Bernabeu with hopes for more first-team football. He has made a handful of appearances in the 2013-14 season, including only four in La Liga, and he continues to play backup to Marcelo.
The Portuguese international was heavily linked with Manchester United over the summer — and those rumours continue — but he signed a contract extension through 2018 in November.
Despite a growing list of suitors, Ancelotti reportedly does not want Coentrao to leave. Los Blancos often keep two quality players at each position, and the Italian coach seems to share this philosophy. While Alvaro Arbeloa and Nacho Fernandez could shift over to the left, neither have Coentrao’s quality at that position.
If Coentrao remains with Madrid, it will be important for him to break into the first team ahead of this summer’s World Cup. He played an important role in qualification with Portugal, and they will be eager to have him at his best in Brazil.
