AC Milan is one of the biggest teams in Italy. However, there are several players who have achieved success after leaving San Siro. Who are they?
AC Milan are still struggling this season. The Rossoneri were eliminated from the Champions League and are only in ninth place in the Serie A standings.
In fact, Milan is strengthened by a number of star players. Three of them are Theo Hernandez, Rafael Leao, and Christian Pulisic.
If Milan is struggling, it is different for a number of former players. They actually achieved success after leaving Milan.
Here are five players who achieved success after leaving AC Milan.
1. Manuel Locatelli
Manuel Locatelli is an AC Milan academy graduate whose name began to be famous while playing for Sassuolo. Then, the Italian midfielder’s career skyrocketed even more after playing for Juventus.
When he was still a Milan player, Locatelli did not really show his fangs. Locatelli was only a reserve player in the second line.
Then, Locatelli’s career began to climb after appearing regularly with Sassuolo. The 27-year-old midfielder was finally brought in by Juventus on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023. With Juve, Locatelli won the Coppa Italia trophy and was included in the Italian national team squad.
2. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Despite having defended Milan since the youth group, it does not mean that Gianluigi Donnarumma is reluctant to pack his bags. The goalkeeper chose to continue his career at PSG in the summer of 2021.
At that time, losing Donnarumma was a big blow for Milan. Moreover, the goalkeeper left on a free transfer. Some Milan supporters still hate Donnarumma to this day.
Nevertheless, Donnarumma still achieved positive results with PSG. He led Les Parisiens to maintain hegemony in the domestic arena.
3. Brahim Diaz
Brahim Diaz made the right decision when he chose to return to Real Madrid rather than stay at Milan. With Madrid, Diaz won prestigious trophies.
Indeed, Diaz’s career at Milan was not without achievements. The Moroccan player was part of Milan when they won the 2021-2022 Scudetto.
Interestingly, after returning to Real Madrid, Diaz’s career has become increasingly brilliant. He won LaLiga and the Champions League. If he had remained in Milan, Diaz is believed to have found it difficult to feel like a winner of the European team title.
4. Hakan Calhanoglu
Hakan Calhanoglu received a lot of abuse when AC Milan faced Inter Milan. However, the 31-year-old midfielder still enjoyed his journey with the Nerazzurri. Understandably, in the same period, Calhanoglu’s titles were still more than those of the Rossoneri.
Calhanoglu made a surprising decision by choosing to defect to Inter in the summer of 2021. Moreover, at that time Calhanoglu left on a free transfer.
However, the move was very appropriate for the development of the former Bayer Leverkusen career. If when in Milan did not win anything, with Inter Calhanoglu collected six trophies, including the Scudetto title.
5. Sandro Tonali
Sandro Tonali is the latest name on the list. A move to England has not diminished the 24-year-old’s brilliance.
Sandro Tonali was once touted as Milan’s future player. He was considered suitable to be the Rossoneri leader for a long time.
Unfortunately, Milan could not resist a tempting offer from Newcastle United. Tonali headed to The Magpies in the summer of 2023.
Despite receiving a ban at the start of his journey with Newcastle, Tonali is now starting to show his mettle.
Tonali has just led Newcastle to the EFL Cup trophy. It was Newcastle’s first domestic title in 70 years.
