"As all teams do, AC Milan are enjoying the contribution from their best players. However, others are chipping in during a great start to the season. As Quotidiano Sportivo write, this is not just Rafael Leao's Milan, or Christian Pulisic's, or Luka Modric's and Adrien Rabiot's. The new era under Massimiliano Allegri is also that of the 'wingmen' who are doing their jobs with distinction, namely Matteo Gabbia, Davide Bartesaghi and Alexis Saelemaekers."
"Gabbia got a taste of the national team under Luciano Spalletti last October, even though he never played. Now he is back in the fold under Gennaro Gattuso, who called him up for the Azzurri's most recent two matches, though again he didn't feature. His performances against the likes of Rasmus Hojlund, Dusan Vlahovic, Moise Kean and even the 'ThuLa' duo in the derby certainly didn't go unnoticed. Matteo is proving to be a very consistent defensive anchor."
"Bartesaghi meanwhile is in the Italy U21s with Silvio Baldini (four starts) and has taken the starting spot from Pervis Estupiñan. This summer, the now former- Futuro man renewed his contract - worth €600,000 net per year - until 2030. In the league, he has played nine matches, six as a starter, which is not bad for a 19-year-old. He has plenty that Allegri likes: he is physically big and powerful, he is defensively attentive, he puts in good deliveries and can also take corners from the right."
AC Milan's early-season momentum owes as much to supporting players as to headline stars. Matteo Gabbia has been a near-everpresent under Massimiliano Allegri, leading a three-man defence with maturity and Milanismo while earning national team call-ups. His displays against top forwards and in the derby have underlined his consistency as a defensive anchor. Davide Bartesaghi, a 19-year-old Italy U21 starter, secured a contract through 2030 and offers physicality, defensive attentiveness, accurate deliveries and corner-taking from the right. Alexis Saelemaekers won the Scudetto under Stefano Pioli and spent recent seasons on loan at Bologna and Roma.
Read at SempreMilan
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