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AC Milan have looked quite impressive this season, amassing 52 points in 24 games so far. The Italian heavyweights seem to be back to their best. They are strong title contenders for the Serie A title this season, being just a point away from leaders Inter Milan in third place.
It has been more than 10 years since Milan last won the Scudetto. A number of things have gone wrong for them and much of it has to do with their management.
AC Milan have let some fine players go
One of Milan's biggest mistakes during their unsuccessful spell in Italy has been their transfer decisions. The side's failure to get their superstars to sign a new contract has seen some amazing players like Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Donnarumma leave on free transfers.
Many other quality players have also left for a fee, with their departures weakening the team. A club of Milan's stature definitely have the pull and power to keep their best players, but they have often failed to do so. These players could've played a big role in Milan's success had they stayed.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five great players AC Milan should not have sold.
#5 Manuel Locatelli
Manuel Locatelli came through the ranks at AC Milan and was promoted to the senior side in 2015. The Italian midfielder, however, never got a good run of games to prove himself. In his four seasons with Milan, Locatelli made just 63 appearances, scoring two goals and making one assist.
Locatelli's style of play is very much similar to his idol Andrea Pirlo. He likes to sit deep and dictate the game from midfield. That being said, the 24-year-old is versatile and can adapt to different situations.
Seeking game-time, Locatelli left Milan to play for Sassuolo on loan in 2018. The move became permanent the following season and the Italian international is now at Juventus on loan.
At Sassuolo, he scored seven goals and registered 11 assists in 99 appearances in all competitions. Although it is a loan deal at Juventus, given his amazing talent and potential, the Old Lady won't shy away from making the deal permanent.
#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Not many are aware that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was once an AC Milan player. He joined the Serie A club's youth academy and was loaned out to multiple clubs to gain more experience.
Unfortunately, the Gabonese forward never really got a chance to play for the senior side. Aubameyang was first loaned to Dijon, Lille and Monaco and then sold to Saint-Etienne in 2011 where he started attracting more interest from other clubs.
There, he scored 41 goals and registered 25 assists in 97 appearances. He then joined Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and became an immense player in front of goal.
After having a stellar time with the German club, scoring 141 goals in 213 appearances, Aubameyang joined Arsenal in 2016. He was brilliant for them before joining Barcelona on loan in the January transfer window. Given the struggles Milan havehad in front of goal over the past few years, the Gabonese would surely have come in handy.
#3 Leonardo Bonucci
AC Milan have historically had some amazing defenders in their team. They signed Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus in 2017 after the Italian had an amazing spell with the Old Lady.
With experience under his belt, the veteran centre-back was expected to lead the Milan backline. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case as Bonucci struggled to impose his presence on the defense. Because of some poor performances, the Italian started running out of favor.
Had Milan shown more patience, it could have turned out to be different. Bonucci left after a season, making 51 appearances for Milan in all competitions. He rejoined Juventus in 2018 and is back to being successful, winning Serie A twice, making it a regretful decision for the Red and Blacks.
#2 Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva was signed by AC Milan from Fluminese in 2009. Under the management of Carlo Ancelotti and the guidance of Paolo Maldini, the Brazilian grew into a fine defender.
Over time, Silva imposed his authority at the back and had a commanding presence in the backline. His smart tackling and amazing aerial abilities were of utmost use to Milan. He made 119 appearances for the club in all competitions, winning one each of the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana in three seasons.
At the Serie A club itself, Silva earned a lot of recognition around Europe, attracting interest from some of the top European clubs. Paris-Saint Germain were able to secure his signature with Carlo Ancelotti as their manager then in 2012.
He won seven Ligue 1 titles and ended up as a runner-up in the 2019-20 Champions League. Silva is currently performing brilliantly at Chelsea. Had the 37-year-old stayed with Milan, it would have made a ton of difference to their fortunes.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for a number of top European clubs and has certainly played for most of the top Serie A clubs. After falling out with Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, the Swedish striker joined AC Milan on loan in 2010.
He then went on to win Serie A, which is why he was signed permanently the following season. Ibrahimovic, in his second season with Milan, scored 28 goals in 32 appearances, finishing the season as the league's top-scorer.
Surprisingly, the Serie A club opted to sell the Swedish superstar to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012. It was shocking considering how vital Ibrahimovic was to the team and since then Milan have failed to win the league.
At PSG, he scored 156 goals in 180 appearances across all competitions. However, he did return to the club in the winter of 2020 and is currently doing well with the club at the ripe age of 40.
