Ismael Bennacer surprised Milan by changing agents right in the homestretch of the negotiation to extend his contract. However, it shouldn’t jeopardize its positive outcome. The midfield has several deep-pocketed suitors, but the Rossoneri are optimistic he’ll re-up sooner rather than later, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The Algerian international recently hired Enzo Raiola as his representative, which caused a delay. But the parties are nearing an agreement anyway. His new deal could run until 2027, and his wages triple, from €1.5M per year to €4M plus add-ons.
Milan will have to give in to some requests, but the new Bennacer salary would be within their usual parameters. The parties had an in-person meeting at the HQ Wednesday. There have been frequent phone calls in the lead-up to it.
The maestro has collected 126 appearances, scoring 4 goals, since joining the Rossoneri from Empoli for a €17M fee in 2019. The reigning Serie A champions will return from Dubai later this week. The next summit might be the decisive one to put pen to paper ahead of the formal announcement.
Our Take on Milan and Bennacer
He probably gave the execs a little scare, but it would undoubtedly be a great development for the Rossoneri, which can’t lose another midfield cornerstone after failing to retain Franck Kessié. The vultures constantly loom, but there appears to be enough momentum for it not to be a problem, and perhaps they’ll strike a deal even before the January window. The brass has taken care of most pending extensions, and once the Algerian’s one is done as well, all eyes will be on Rafael Leao.
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