Jeremy Menez: 10 Years Late, But It's Better Late Than Never For AC Milan

French centre-forward Jeremy Menez, 27, was obliterating his career until he signed for AC Milan.

It has taken Menez a decade to warrant the hype which surrounded him as a prodigious teenage footballer.

World At His Feet 

Ambling towards Ulrich Rame, Menez imperiously clipped the ball over the veteran goalkeeper to complete a hat-trick.

Menez had helped Sochaux increase a one-goal advantage to a 4-0 win over Bordeaux in seven minutes.

Then-Sochaux manager Guy Lacombe, a former pro, quipped at Menez being way ahead of the curve.

"Menez is good for Sochaux and French football. Three goals in a game at 17 [years of age]," Lacombe said, per Christian Chatelet at UEFA.com. "I had to wait until I was 28 [years old] to score one."

Gaining many new fans, Menez experienced the surreal feeling of having leverage while being recruited by a football luminary—then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I didn't talk much, I just listened," Menez said, per L'Equipe (h/t Mark Doyle at Goal). "[Ferguson] told me what he expected of me and spoke about money. He doesn't beat around the bush."

To close the deal, Ferguson allegedly tried to buy the trust of Menez's parents, according to then-Sochaux president Jean-Claude Plessis.

"Ferguson even went to Jeremy's parents' home in the Paris suburbs and made them financial offers," Plessis said, per Mark Buckingham at Sky Sports. "But his parents are sensible people and they put their son's career first."

JON SUPER/Associated Press

Manchester United refuted Plessis' claims, who continued to throw barbs at the Premier League giants.

"In no way will [Menez] go to Manchester United," Plessis said, per Peter O'Rourke at Sky Sports. "That would mean I would sell my soul."

Contract in hand, Plessis marched towards Menez.

"I knew exactly when [Menez's] date of birth was," Plessis said, per Matthew Spiro at Channel 4. "I acted as soon as I could."

Where Ferguson failed, Monaco succeeded through a €3.5/£2.4 million bid.

Then-Monaco sporting director Marc Keller guaranteed Menez the chance to play on his preferred flank—the left—while also signing his friend Sylvain Monsoreau.

"The chance to play as a left midfielder is a good thing. It was my position at Sochaux and I felt at ease. Moreover, I will join Sylvain, who I knew at Sochaux," Menez said, per Laurent Picard and Patrick Haond at Sky Sports. "I know I will improve and reach a new level."

Despite playing with 6'7" No. 9 Jan Koller, emerging superstar Yaya Toure, lightning-fast Serge Gakpe and the creative Camel Meriem, Menez was a highlight-reel player, but not a world-class footballer.

By 2008, Menez witnessed Franck Ribery, Hugo Lloris, Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri reach a new level.

Going Rogue

Roma ignored Menez's lack of productivity and invested in his upside, signing him for €12/£9.6 million.

Then-Roma manager Vincenzo Montella questioned Menez's commitment and desire, per Corriere dello Sport (h/t Salvatore Landolina at Goal).

"When Montella came to Roma, it became difficult for everybody," Menez said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC). "Before he came, I was playing all the time, but he had different ideas."

• Monaco (2006/08): 14 goals, 8 assists, 22 total goals, 57 league games.
• Roma (2008/11): 12 goals, 22 assists, 34 total goals, 114 league games.

Menez either scored or created a goal in 38.6 per cent of league games at Monaco, but that dipped to 29.8 per cent at Roma.

Undone by indiscipline, injuries, instability, insubordination and a falling out with Montella, Menez endured another career body-blow.

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Paris Saint-Germain gambled on Menez's talent and signed him for €8/£7.1 million.

In his first season (2011/12), Menez formed a productive trident alongside Javier Pastore and Nene.

• Menez: Second (13) to Eden Hazard in Ligue 1 assists (16).
• Pastore: Scored 13 goals and has failed to reach double-digits in league play since. Manchester United legend Eric Cantona believes Pastore is the "best player in the world."
• Nene: Tied with Olivier Giroud as leading scorer (21 goals). Nowadays, Nene is a substitute at West Ham United.

What ruined Menez at Paris Saint-Germain was Laurent Blanc succeeding Carlo Ancelotti and the €40/£32.6 million signing of Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo.

Menez has a tendency to act out, which Blanc refused to tolerate.

"I have met with [Menez] this morning. There will be a sanction," Blanc said, per Sportal. "He will not be with us for the Marseille trip."

"Ancelotti was closer to his players [and] you felt important with him," Menez said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Press Association Sport via SBS). "Blanc has a different way of managing. I am a little misunderstood."

Mathieu Cugnot/Associated Press

While Lucas has not been a bust like Lucas Severino was for Rennes, the Paris Saint-Germain big-money signing leans more towards mercurial than reliable.

"Lucas, he has been there for two years, and he has scored three goals. But he cost €40 million and he is Brazilian. Today, it is perhaps better to be a foreigner at Paris Saint-Germain," Menez said, per beIN Sports. "I did well in the first two seasons, less in the last one, but I was still decisive."

Menez has a point, but he is being hypocritical as his entire career has been erratic.

Fighting Back

• Sochaux → Monaco (2006; 19 years old): €3.5/£2.4 million.
• Monaco → Roma (2008; 21 years old): €12/£9.6 million.
• Roma → Paris Saint-Germain (2011; 24 years old): €8/£7.1 million.
• Paris Saint-Germain → AC Milan (2014; 27 years old): Free transfer.

Menez's transfer stock dissipated so much he could exercise his Bosman right to a free transfer.

"I don't want to say too much, but it was absolutely my idea to get [Menez]," AC Milan chief executive officer Adriano Galliani said, per Milan Channel (h/t Football Italia). "He seemed an important player."

Galliani is boasting about the master-stroke decision to sign Menez because he has scored more league goals this season (16) than his last three seasons combined (14).

Only Carlos Tevez has scored more goals in Serie A (17) than Menez this season (16).

Fernando Torres scoring once from 591 minutes (now on loan at Atletico Madrid), Giampaolo Pazzini being a super-sub and Mattia Destro still adjusting to AC Milan have enabled Menez to flourish.

Menez is a ball-dominant footballer with tunnel vision: Yell for the ball, run towards goal, shoot on sight and demand to take penalties. 

It is fitting Menez is being managed by the only more me, me, me footballer AC Milan has had in recent memory—Filippo Inzaghi.

"My single-mindedness is famous in Italy. The fact is I live for scoring," Inzaghi said, per James Richardson at FourFourTwo. "[Though], I must confess, sometimes I've been too selfish."

You surmise as a footballer, Inzaghi hated being derisively tagged that way.

This is the context behind Inzaghi opting against reprimanding Menez, who probably thinks football is an individual sport when he receives the ball and is running towards the opposing defence.

"Is Menez selfish? No. [OK], maybe on one occasion he could give it first to a teammate," Inzaghi said, per Sky (h/t Mark Doyle at Goal). "But I do not like to blame one player."

Before slating Menez for being detrimental to team play as Mario Balotelli was, you need to acknowledge AC Milan are a mid-table team.

This is why Menez is allowed to turn on the me, myself and I mode.

He was a wunderkind who flamed out, revived his career at Paris Saint-Germain, then was dumped for the Brazilian flavour of the month.

Now Menez is having a career-best season.

"When you're young, you think that you're the best and don't even realise your mistakes. Now that I've understood things, I want to enjoy this moment," Menez said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia). "As Zlatan Ibrahimovic said recently, I am like a fine wine that gets better with age."

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.