The striker is still out due to injury and is unlikely to get a chance when he returns

The question is legitimate: will we see Santi Gimenez in the Rossoneri jersey again? In training, yes, for sure: the striker is working separately to recover from his left ankle problem and regularly attends Milanello, although his return to the group (initially estimated for the derby) is still uncertain. He will not be there tomorrow in the Coppa Italia rematch against Lazio and is unlikely to join the team on Monday in the postponed match in Turin. Personalized training sessions are scheduled at least until the end of the week, followed by a return to the team and a phase of high-intensity training. Meanwhile, December is coming to an end and January is approaching, which in turn will open the window for the new winter transfer market. Gimenez could end up in the middle of the new wave of negotiations.

The atmosphere is one that precedes certain scenarios: real or alleged rumors, news intercepted or deliberately circulated, report the interest of Premier League teams. In particular, West Ham and Sunderland are said to be ready to make a move: in fact, the club has not yet received any official offers. Interviewed by ESPN, Pimenta played down the possibility of Santi changing cities: “If the Premier League wants him, I’m not surprised. It seems normal to me that there are one, two, or three clubs interested, but the idea of him leaving Milan does not exist. All the facts, messages, and words I have received from Milan have always been positive. There has not been a single moment when Milan has told me that something was wrong. Whenever the press talks too much, I call Milan, and Milan always replies: ‘No, we’re fine, everything’s fine, thank you.’” Gimenez had given up looking elsewhere in the summer, despite Milan and Allegri not offering him any certainty about a starting role: Santi had preferred to give himself more time with the Rossoneri to try to finally make a name for himself. Today, however, the situation is different, consolidated: Leao is the designated center forward, Pulisic the de facto striker, with Nkunku as the first alternative to the starting pair. The issue is essentially tactical: Max wants players who deprive opponents of reference points, intending to exploit speed on the counterattack rather than physicality in the box and the layoffs of a professional striker. That’s why Gimenez is thinking twice: at Milan, he risks finding limited space.

goals—  This is the opposite of what Santi needs to try to re-emerge, namely guarantees of playing time and a massive dose of confidence. Allegri has always used kind and appreciative words for the striker’s commitment on the pitch: at the beginning, finding himself unexpectedly in the starting lineup due to injuries to Leao and then Pulisic, Gimenez had offered generous and substantial performances. However, teamwork alone was no longer considered satisfactory: it is legitimate to expect goals from center forwards, and Santi, apart from one goal against Lecce in the Coppa Italia, never responded to that expectation in nine league games and 627 minutes on the pitch.
tempi—  Then came the ankle injury that forced him off after 62 minutes of Atalanta-Milan on October 28, 2025. Santi himself wanted to make the Milan fans and others aware of the problem via his Instagram profile (“For several months, I have been playing with an ankle injury that has prevented me from being 100% and feeling comfortable on the pitch. I have continued to help the team with enthusiasm and have continued to play, but the pain has increased, and the time has come to stop. I hope to return as soon as possible”). This was a way of emphasizing how his physical condition may have contributed to his decline in performance. Despite the pain, Gimenez gave his all for the cause, a dedication that was recognized not only by the coach but also by the fans themselves. And even if the goal in front of him seemed small, the San Siro crowd, or the Rossoneri fans away from home, never caught him out. However, the times of support have also changed: with the team unexpectedly at the top and allowed to dream big, no one can afford inconclusive performances. For Gimenez, the pressure would increase while the space, on the contrary, would decrease. An uncomfortable situation. That is why the striker seems to have changed his perspective and is now willing to look around. The club will do the same: evaluating any offers for Gimenez is in the club’s interest, after the investment of €28.5 million plus bonuses in January 2025. When the purchase of Santi from Feyenoord, like that of Joao Felix from Chelsea, fueled dreams of a Champions League comeback, which were then dashed. Now, any proceeds could be reinvested in players who are more functional and suited to the characteristics required by the coach. Milan is considering it, with January just around the corner.