Why Andrea Bertolacci Is a Good Signing for AC Milan—No Matter the Cost

The first thing about Andrea Bertolacci that stands out is the cost.

AC Milan paid a flat €20 million to AS Roma for the 24-year-old midfielder, per Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio. The move made Bertolacci one of the most expensive Italian players in recent history, and it also raised questions over his true worth.

Milan would have overpaid for Geoffrey Kondogbia—who last week snubbed their €40 million offer for rivals Inter, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia)—and they ended up overpaying for Bertolacci. The fact remains that Milan must do whatever they can to lure players back to the San Siro.

They are desperate to compete again, and all the selling clubs know it.

"

Andrea Bertolacci for €20m is actually a good symbol for where #Milan are at. Have to overpay to get anyone worthwhile to go there atm

— Adam Digby (@Adz77) June 25, 2015"

Milan do not have the luxury to pull off cut-rate deals anymore. After all, those are what have led them to this low point in their history, with a record €91 million in losses.

It’s not like the price paid for Bertolacci is that big of a ripoff anyway. Roma put down €8.5 million to buy the other half of the Italian international from Genoa, where he had spent the last three seasons as part of a co-ownership deal, per the club's website. Based on that transaction fee, Bertolacci’s real value is somewhere around €17 million.

Plus, his wages are a manageable €2 million a year, per Di Marzio’s website.

Add it all up and the Milan deal suddenly doesn’t look so outrageous.

Besides, he is exactly the player Milan need, too: a creative influence within the midfield. Bertolacci put up eight assists for Genoa last season, just two tallies behind the Serie A leaders in that category. He can play from a central or advanced position, a deeper playmaker or No. 10.

This is a player who is just starting to make a name for himself. His best could come for Milan.

Last season, the Rossoneri struggled to create many genuine chances. They were 19th out of 20 clubs in Serie A in terms of total chances created, per Squawka. They did not, by any means, play a smooth game; rather, Milan relied on creating chaos in the box. It was hard to watch.

The absence of Riccardo Montolivo and Stephan El Shaarawy for major parts of the season, as well as the declining play of Keisuke Honda, left Milan without many sources of inspiration. 

Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

In fact, Bertolacci is effectively replacing another promising attacking midfielder whom Milan decided to neglect and then release. Before it was Riccardo Saponara, who was supposed to be the source of the team’s creative reserves, the future of a more Italian squad. Now it's Bertolacci.

Milan do already have a surplus of attacking players—Honda, Suso, Alessio Cerci, Stephan El Shaarawy and M’Baye Niang—but the beauty of Bertolacci is that, much like Giacomo Bonaventura, he is versatile. He can be more withdrawn, more of a veiled threat, and he is not afraid to shoot from afar. 

Bertolacci will most importantly give Nigel de Jong a much-needed helping hand. The Dutchman has not only had to deal with defensive duties, but also the transition game. Now, Bertolacci is there as a quick outlet for De Jong. The two can legitimately play off each other.

In the long run, Milan could and probably should recoup the transfer fee for Bertolacci when they make the Champions League. With Bertolacci in the squad, their chances of finishing higher up the table are that much better.