Why Rodrigo Ely Will Prove to Be a Hit for AC Milan

In the three years since AC Milan sold Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain and Alessandro Nesta left the team to finish his career in MLS, the defensive line has been the team's biggest weakness.

For years, the team sought to do with makeshift solutions like Philippe Mexes, Cristian Zapata, Alex and Gabriel Paletta.  The result—much to the chagrin of Milan's fans—was a porous defense that more often resembled a sieve than a wall.

This summer the Rossoneri finally began to change all that.  After a protracted negotiation, they bought Italy U21 international Alessio Romagnoli from Roma.  The move was widely lauded as the acquisition of a talented young player who can be a building block for long-term success in the back line.  But a smaller move may have given them just as much long-term upside as Romagnoli: the signing of Brazilian center back Rodrigo Ely.

Born in Lajeado, Brazil, the 21-year-old Ely began his career in the Gremio youth system in 2011.  But he only stayed there a year before attracting the attention of Milan.  When he arrived, he was immediately loaned out to lower-level teams Reggina, where he played 27 games, and then Varese, where he played 37.

Last season, he spent the year at Avellino.  He helped the Lupi gain the last spot in the new expanded playoff system that determines the third team promoted to Serie A.  The team scored a big upset of fifth-placed Spezia in the first round before being edged out by Bologna over two legs by the tiebreaker.

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Ely's contribution to the team from Campania convinced Milan that the youngster was ready for the big time.  Ely was brought back for practically nothing and immediately placed into Sinisa Mihajlovic's starting XI for the preseason.

Initially, he started alongside his countryman Alex.  He was a better complement for the older Brazilian than any other man on the roster, especially in compensating for his lack of pace.  He didn't particularly stand out at the back, but he didn't make any calamitous errors either.  He also looked a threat at the other end of the field from set pieces, heading just over on a corner in the preseason derby against Inter in China.

There was, however, one small fly in the ointment where Ely was concerned—and unfortunately it reared its head during Milan's season-opening contest against Fiorentina.

In one respect, it wasn't Ely's fault.  Milan's midfield, which over the first two games has looked badly unsettled, left the Brazilian badly exposed more than once.  A pair of through balls saw Ely take a passing attacker down.  Referee Paolo Valeri showed a yellow card on each incident, sending him to the locker room only 36 minutes into the season as the first man to get shown a red card this campaign.

The sending-off was the third foul Ely had been whistled for in the match and laid bare what might be the youngster's greatest weakness—a propensity to pick up cards.  Unlike Mexes, who is looked at as a red card waiting to happen because of his propensity to get overly aggressive with opponents, Ely's issue is rash challenges like the ones made in Florence.

Ely is young, though.  Although there are some exceptions—most prominently Daniele Rugani—it's rare to see a young defender who doesn't go through the occasional card problem.  Maturity should work that out of him.

If it does, Milan have a lot to look forward to with their young defender.  Ely has shown himself to be an excellent passer—according to WhoScored.com, he completed 91.7 percent of his passes, including two long balls.  Having a top-notch passer in the back is a huge plus—ask Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri how many times Leonardo Bonucci's passing ability has contributed to a victory.

Between that passing prowess and his consistent ability to avoid errors when he does stay on the field, Ely's ceiling is high.  He and Romagnoli—combined age 41—have the potential to be Milan's defensive bedrock for a long time.

Ely won't be a superstar, but not everyone in your XI can be.  The youngster projects as a steady contributor in the back line—something that Milan has needed for a number of years now.