AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez is reportedly leaning towards leaving the club this summer as contract renewal talks are said to be unlikely to reach a positive conclusion.
The 27-year-old has been a fundamental presence in the side since joining us from Real Madrid in 2019, as he’s since gone on to make 262 appearances for the club, scoring 34 goals and providing 45 assists in those outings to go with his defensive work.
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While the Rossoneri have frustrated and disappointed in equal measure in more recent times, Hernandez was a major part of our previous success, and could potentially remain a key figure under Massimiliano Allegri moving forward.
However, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the chances of the Frenchman putting pen to paper on a contract renewal with Milan are now put at zero, as after a meeting last week between his agent and the club, it’s suggested that there is an acceptance that he will move on.
It’s suggested that not only does Hernandez wish to start a new challenge elsewhere, but there is a significant gap between player and club on the terms of a possible renewal, and so it seems though it’s too big a difference to find a compromise.
What now complicates matters is that the Milan defender’s current contract expires in June 2026, and so with just 12 months remaining, we’re likely going to have to accept a lower offer to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing next year.
It’s added in the report above that there is interest from Al Hilal, but time will tell if they’re able to put forward a proposal that is deemed acceptable by Milan, while also being able to agree on personal terms with the player.
It promises to be a busy summer for the Rossoneri as Allegri and sporting director Igli Tare go about rebuilding the squad to suit their preferred identity and style of play, and outgoings are likely needed to fund our own spending on incomings.
In turn, if Milan are able to collect a significant fee for Hernandez, it’s hoped that it will be reinvested back into the squad to fill that void and hopefully ensure we’re not severely weakened by the move. The departure of one of our top players in recent years would certainly be a statement of intent though when it comes to rebuilding and starting a new cycle.
