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 below 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 tip?
When considering 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 very good 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 shifting to the Fiorentina youth sector the place he matured as a footballer and the place he was thought of a terrific 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 targets and added two assists in 24 video games in Serie A.
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Cagliari used their possibility 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 targets to his title.
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 related by way of kind of footballer to Rafael Leao, of whom he arrives at Milan, on paper, to be the deputy to.
When it comes to angle, he’s very a lot appreciated for his aggressive spirit which generally takes him slightly 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, every thing 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 may be competitiveness.”
The actual Achilles heel, in distinction to what has been seen at youth stage, is his lack of targets as a winger. He usually manages to create harmful conditions however will not be in a position to end. The one 20 targets in 174 skilled video games are a really clear reality, however this season he has already struck 5 occasions.
Actually, shifting from the out-of-form Okafor seen this yr to a energetic and prepared participant like Sottil might be optimistic on paper for Sergio Conceicao. Accidents is also a purple flag: 12 within the final 5 seasons, none this yr. From 2020-21 to right this moment he has missed a complete of 68 video games.