CM: Thiaw a ‘new’ resource for Milan – the background on his Newcastle rejection

Malick Thiaw has seen somewhat of a revitalisation in recent weeks, and AC Milan have a ‘new’ resource available because of it. 

2024 has been a strange year for Thiaw, and his presence at Milan has dwindled, to the point where a summer departure looked very possible. However, he is now making a claim to be a starter once again, leaving Fonseca with a nice headache.

In Serie A Matchday 1, a calamitous game effectively wrote him out of the picture, but the German did not stop fighting. Instead, he worked to refind himself, and he has done so, marking the occasion by scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It could have been much different, though. As Calciomercato.com suggests, with Stefano Pioli as the Rossoneri’s head coach still, Thiaw likely would have been a Newcastle United defender. Thiaw wanted a chance under Fonseca, though, given he saw his profile as a match for the Portuguese head coach’s style.

His ability on the ball allows him to be effective in the build-up style which Fonseca has opted for, and on Tuesday he rarely misplaced a pass.

We only have to look back a few weeks to see the central defender fourth in the Diavolo’s defensive rankings, but now, Thiaw has ‘won over’ Fonseca, and he will continue to fight for continuity.