On Saturday, Milan officially announced the signing of Olivier Giroud from Chelsea. The 34-year-old had been previously linked with the Rossoneri’s rivals – Inter and Juventus – but directors Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara managed to put the deal over the finish line, securing a backup option for their main striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
It appears that the club’s supporters are split over this one. Some are happy to see the Frenchman arriving to Milanello, whilst others were hoping for a different profile.
So let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the 34-year-old’s transfer to the Italian giants.
Pro #1 – Reliable Backup
In Ibrahimovic, the Diavolo have a unique striker and a charismatic leader for their relatively young squad. Nonetheless, the Swede will celebrate his 40th birthday next season and his physical problems rendered him an almost part-time player last time around.
Therefore, Giroud happens to be the perfect man for Milan at this point in time. The Frenchman had spent his last years at Chelsea acting mostly as a backup striker, and yet, he was always ready to deliver the goods whenever called upon.
Thus, if (or more precisely, when) Zlatan picks up an injury, the former Arsenal man will lead the front line with his vast experience and sharp touch.
Con #1 – No Big Signings in Attack
After the end of the last campaign, a section of the fans was holding out for a major signing in the attacking department – with Andrea Belotti mentioned as a potential transfer target.
However, with the arrival of the 2018 World Cup winner, it seems that the Rossoneri will rely on two aging veterans in attack.
Pro #2 – Saving Transfer Funds
The club isn’t expected to invest further in attack – not in a big name, at least. But with Giroud only costing them one million euro in transfer funds, Milan should be able to invest on other departments.
After the departure of Hakan Calhanoglu towards their cross-town rivals Inter, a new attacking midfielder would be welcomed sight on the red-and-black side of the San Siro.
Con #2 – Another Mandzukic?
A section of the supporters are a little skeptical about the capabilities of their new striker, who will reach the age of 35 by the end of the summer. This can be an understandable concern following Mario Mandzukic’s botched transfer earlier this year.
Pro #3 – Natural Winner
This last statement can be countered with the fact that the Croatian spent the last 18 months prior to his Milan transfer either without a club or playing in a much less competitive league. Giroud, on the other hand, has been playing non-stop competitive football at the highest levels for more than a decade.
Some would ridicule the man for not taking a single shot on target during France’s triumphant World Cup campaign, and yet, the team looked much more compact in his presence rather than the bland version witnessed at Euro 2020.
Moreover, the number 9 helped Chelsea lifting the Champions League trophy last season. Although he isn’t always a starter, Giroud’s contributions to his teams makes him a favorite for the managers.
Con #3 – Tactical Inflexibility
Whilst some strikers can either perform in the center forward role as well as the second striker position, both Ibrahimovic and Giroud can only play in the number 9 role – especially at this late stage of their respective careers.
Therefore, the former Montpellier man is unlikely to fit in the same lineup with the Swedish giant, which means that Stefano Pioli will most likely play with one striker for the entirety of the campaign.
Conclusion
As it’s always the case, every transfer market move has its pros and cons, but it seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in this one.
Giroud is far from being the dream signing for Milan fans. Nonetheless, acquiring a reliable backup striker whilst saving money to invest on other departments makes this one a smart piece of business in our view.