The Ecuadorian was billed as a replacement for Theo Hernandez when he joined Milan from Brighton last summer, lumbered with unreasonable comparison from the start. Hernandez, at his best, was one of the most effective attacking full-backs on the planet. Estupinan, at 28, is yet to put himself in that conversation, but the hope was that he could offer some of the same directness and ability to get up and down the left flank.
Fofana surely delivered his best performance of the season. He should have had two assists, first for Leao and then Pulisic, and a super stop by Audero denied him what would have been a nice goal. On top of that, he did well in the other phases of the game, not just in those moments.
For Allegri, Ardon is a regista, a player with qualities to exploit in the build-up phase. The new Modric, or at least the Rossoneri player who will take over his duties, could already be at home. Meanwhile, the reorganisation of the midfield opens up new scenarios.