Milan will have to take care of multiple contract extensions in the next few months, and the talks with Ismael Bennacer haven’t been smooth so far.
MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 19: Ismael Bennacer of AC Milan in action during the Coppa Italia Semi Final 2nd Leg match between FC Internazionale v AC Milan at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 19, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan Having Trouble Coming to Terms with Bennacer

Milan will have to take care of multiple contract extensions in the next few months, and the talks with Ismael Bennacer haven’t been smooth so far. In addition, his excellent performances have fueled his demands.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Rossoneri are willing to reward him with a new contract and a pay bump. His current one runs out in 2024, and he makes €1,5M per season. They could double it, but his agent Moussa Sissoko asked for €4M annually in the latest contacts, which is close to Theo Hernandez’s salary.

The Milan directors wish to hold on to Bennacer but don’t want to break the bank either. They will try to close the gap through bonuses. Otherwise, the future of the Algerian midfielder will become a pressing matter in 2023. He will have a €50M release clause for a portion of the window. That was the case last summer already, when Liverpool made a timid approach. Without advancements on the renewal, the risk of what happened with Franck Kessié, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Hakan Calhanoglu would be palpable.

The Algerian international has avoided muscular problems that occasionally hampered him in the past so far. He has featured in every match, scoring a gem against Atalanta. He ranks second in Serie A for key passes, trailing only Cristiano Biraghi, and fourth for ball recoveries.

Our Take on Bennacer and Milan

The Rossoneri took a calculated risk by not replacing Kessié with a top player as they knew they had two reliable starters in him and Sandro Tonali. They better lock him down for the future; otherwise, they would have no alternative to having to invest big in the role.

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