Following Luka Jovic’s departure from San Siro on the finish of his contract earlier this summer time, Milan have been left and not using a no.9 of their squad for the primary time in over 100 years.
Milan don’t have any no.9 for 2025-26
A lot was manufactured from Milan’s hunt for a brand new centre-forward over the course of the summer time switch window. The Rossoneri had lengthy been linked with amongst quite a few different candidates, however in the end caught with Santiago Gimenez, whereas additionally securing on deadline day.
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Massimiliano Allegri has additionally deployed Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic at centre-forward in both a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 in his first few aggressive matches in cost.
Of the choices that Milan at present have at centre-forward, although, none of them will bear the no.9 shirt this season.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 25: Olivier Giroud holds his freamed staff jersey signed on the finish of the final match after the Serie A TIM match towards US Salernitana at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Could 25, 2024 in San Siro, Italy. (Photograph by Marco Luzzani/Getty Photos)
As per that is the primary season that Milan won’t have a recognised no.9 of their squad for the primary time in over 100 years.
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Historically, shirt numbers had been assigned from 1-11, which meant that Milan at all times had a no.9 within the beginning line-up till the introduction of personalised squad numbers within the mid-Nineteen Nineties.
Squad numbers got here into impact in Serie A for the 1995/96 season. Since then, the Rossoneri have at all times had a no.9 of their squad.
Between 1995 and the 12 months 2000, the Milan no.9 shirt was worn by each George Weah and Patrick Kluivert.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 21: Filippo Inzaghi throughout the Serie A match between towards Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 21, 2011 in San Siro, Italy. (Photograph by Claudio Villa/Getty Photos)
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Gianni Comandini had it for the 2000-01 season. Pippo Inzaghi then wore the no.9 from 2001 till his retirement in 2012. Since then, it has been worn by Alexandre Pato, Mattia Destro, Luiz Adriano, Gianluca Lapadula, Andre Silva, Krzysztof Piątek, Mario Mandzukic, Olivier Giroud and most just lately Jovic.
Of Milan’s choices at centre-forward for 2025-26, Santiago Gimenez will put on the no.7, Rafael Leao the no.10, Christian Pulisic the no.11 and Christopher Nkunku the no.18.