Power Ranking Every AC Milan Player from the 2015/16 Serie A Season
The 2015-16 season was turbulent for AC Milan. The team struggled with an inability to string positive results together, the football was generally drab and the end result was a failure to finish inside the top six in Serie A, meaning they will miss out on European football for a third consecutive year.
Sinisa Mihajlovic came and went as head coach, being replaced by former Primavera boss Cristian Brocchi after a 2-1 defeat to Juventus in April. The new man in charge was unable to thwart the club’s descent, however, as they fell to seventh place in the league and lost in the Coppa Italia final to Juventus on Saturday.
After the cup defeat, captain Riccardo Montolivo was keen to move on from the campaign, telling Rai Sport (h/t Football Italia): “If we had played this way throughout the season, it would’ve been a very different campaign. Now we have to put a line under it and evaluate where to go next. I think the team gave everything it had.”
Amid the disappointment, few individual players stood out in terms of frequent quality performances, with the Rossoneri troubled by inconsistency throughout.
Here Bleacher Report ranks each player within Milan’s squad on his contribution this season, both in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
Unranked Players
1 of 27
The players below have not been included in this ranking because they made under five appearances in all competitions in 2015-16:
- Rodrigo Ely (three appearances).
- Manuel Locatelli (two appearances).
- Antonio Nocerino (two appearances).
- Suso (one appearance).
For the rest of this post, all statistics will relate only to league appearances.
26. Alessio Cerci
2 of 27
Apps (sub): 8(5) Goals: 0 Assists: 1
After a poor start to his loan spell with Milan the previous year, 2015-16 was set to be a decisive campaign in Alessio Cerci’s career. Unfortunately, he was not to be rejuvenated, and the club terminated his 18-month deal early in January.
The 28-year-old was used regularly by Mihajlovic but was unable to reproduce the performances that saw him earn a move to Atletico Madrid in 2014. He was subjected to jeers from his own fans before eventually losing his place in the team to Keisuke Honda.
25. Kevin-Prince Boateng
3 of 27
Apps (sub): 1(10) Goals: 1 Assists: 0
Kevin-Prince Boateng rejoined Milan in January after a spell in Germany with Schalke but struggled to make an impact on the first team. The 29-year-old featured mostly from the substitutes’ bench, earning a below par 6.29 average rating for his efforts.
After showing some impressive touches and movement on his second club debut, away to Roma, he drifted out of the team, with his partner Melissa Satta suggesting all was not well under Mihajlovic’s reign.
“I believe that with Brocchi, the Rossoneri dressing room and atmosphere around the club will become a lot calmer and more tranquil,” she told Tiki Taka (h/t Gazzetta World) upon the Serbian coach’s dismissal. “Beforehand it was not like this at all.”
A change of manager didn’t lead to more first-team action for Boateng, however, and he is set to leave the club this summer following the expiration of his contract, per MilanNews (h/t Football Italia).
24. Nigel de Jong
4 of 27
Apps (sub): 5 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
Milan’s defensive line has, for much of this campaign, featured a combination of youngsters, such as Gianluigi Donnarumma (17 years old), Alessio Romagnoli (21), Rodrigo Ely (22) and Davide Calabria (19), as well as players such as Alex and Philippe Mexes who, at 33 and 34 respectively, lack pace and are past their best.
In such circumstances, the defence needed a strong midfield shield with good positional intelligence. Nigel de Jong was not able to provide this in his five outings for the team before he left for Los Angeles Galaxy in the midseason transfer window.
23. Diego Lopez
5 of 27
Apps (sub): 8 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
After a positive debut season with the club, former Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez quickly found himself out of the first team in 2015-16. Some nervy showings led to the then-16-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma displacing him in October.
Mihajlovic’s decision to omit his more experienced shot-stopper in favour of a teenager was bold, but over time, it would prove to be inspired, as the youngster established himself as one of the club’s most consistent performers.
After being dropped, Lopez suffered an injury and failed to work his way back into the side.
22. Jeremy Menez
6 of 27
Apps (sub): 2(8) Goals: 2 Assists: 0
Jeremy Menez was Milan’s top scorer in 2014-15, scoring 16 league goals, but he was struck down by injury for much of 2015-16. As a consequence, the whimsical Frenchman made just two starts in Serie A.
He impressed in the Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg win over Alessandria, finding the net twice, though he didn’t build on the performance. Instead, the 29-year-old contented himself with a place on the bench.
21. Andrea Poli
7 of 27
Apps (sub): 4(14) Goals: 0 Assists: 1
Despite there being three central-midfield berths up for grabs throughout much of this season, Andrea Poli couldn’t grasp a regular first-team spot. As a result, 2015-16 proved to be his least active in a Milan shirt, as he made fewer appearances than he did in each of his first two terms with the club.
The 26-year-old is a hard worker, and he continued to bring his trademark drive and energy onto the pitch when called upon, but his average passing ability and lack of skill on the ball meant he always lagged behind his team-mates with greater technical quality.
20. Philippe Mexes
8 of 27
Apps (sub): 4(1) Goals: 1 Assists: 0
In his five league appearances this term, Philippe Mexes earned a respectable 7.05 average rating. All in all, however, the French centre-back was used sparingly, and his path to a place in the starting lineup was generally blocked by Romagnoli, Alex and Cristian Zapata.
At 34 years old, he lacks pace, and with his reputation for volatility, he was always a risky choice for a Milan side that wanted to defend higher up the pitch. Tellingly, in four of his five league showings, he picked up a yellow card.
With his contract expiring at the end of this season, it is unlikely Mexes will stay as the club looks for a more strategic centre-back partner for Romagnoli.
19. Christian Abbiati
9 of 27
Apps (sub): 0(1) Goals: 0 Assists: 0
After an 18-year association with Milan, Christian Abbiati retired at the end of the 2015-16 season, a campaign in which he spent most of his time as back-up to Donnarumma. The 38-year-old, who won three Scudetti during his time with the club, bade an emotional farewell following the last home game, a 3-1 defeat to Roma.
While he only appeared once in Serie A duty, coming off the bench to replace an injured Donnarumma away to Chievo, he did play an important role in helping the Rossoneri reach the Coppa Italia final, keeping three clean sheets in five cup appearances.
18. Jose Mauri
10 of 27
Apps (sub): 3(2) Goals: 0 Assists: 0
Jose Mauri arrived at Milan last summer with plenty of promise. The 20-year-old Argentinian midfielder impressed in his debut season in the top flight with Parma and was seen as a combative battler in the Gennaro Gattuso mould.
However. the youngster’s first six months at the San Siro were extremely strange, with his agent, Dino Zampacorta, even suggesting that he could have left in January, telling MilanNews (h/t Football Italia): “If things keep going with too many spells on the bench or in the stands then it’s normal that we’ll talk.”
Mauri didn’t make a single league appearance until 13 March, coming off the bench for the final five minutes of the draw away to Chievo. In his next outing, the draw at home to Carpi, he showed enough dynamism and penetrative movement to earn a starting berth.
All in all, his total of five league appearances was disappointing, but he justified belief he could play an important part in the club’s future when he did feature.
17. Davide Calabria
11 of 27
Apps (sub): 3(3) Goals: 0 Assists: 0
One of the rare positives in a year of tumult for Milan was the promotion of several young talents from the youth academy. Nineteen-year-old right-back Davide Calabria was one of the three to make the grade, alongside midfielder Locatelli and goalkeeper Donnarumma.
While he wasn’t quite able to break beyond the solid Ignazio Abate to claim a regular starting spot, the youngster showed real pace and attacking ambition in his six league displays. He also played in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus, coping well with the pressure such an occasion brings.
16. Mattia De Sciglio
12 of 27
Apps (sub): 21(1) Goals: 0 Assists: 1
Time is running out for Mattia De Sciglio to fulfil his potential. The 23-year-old full-back, who can play on either flank, endured another season blighted by poor defending and a lack of penetrative forward runs. Perhaps suffering from a lack of confidence, he lost out in the hunt for each full-back spot, to Abate on the right and Luca Antonelli on the left.
He offered glimpses of what he can do with a positive showing in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus. His aim must be to replicate that sort of display on a more consistent basis.
15. Andrea Bertolacci
13 of 27
Apps (sub): 21(6) Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Andrea Bertolacci joined Milan from Roma for £15 million last summer, making him the third-most expensive signature in a season of heavy investment by the Rossoneri. Unfortunately for the club, the midfielder underwhelmed in his maiden campaign at the San Siro.
After sparkling at Genoa, the playmaker simply could not fit in with the Rossoneri, regardless of the coach in charge or the system in place. He was used in a central two and on the left and right of a three, but he never looked entirely comfortable in any position.
If Milan can find a way to harness his left foot and minimise his lack of athleticism, they could get the best out of Bertolacci. If not, he may turn out to be one of the most expensive flops in recent years.
14. Luiz Adriano
14 of 27
Apps (sub): 12(14) Goals: 4 Assists: 3
Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano was expected to form a devastating strike duo with Carlos Bacca, but just six months after joining Milan last summer, he came close to moving to China. Despite a good work ethic, solid aerial threat and pace, the 29-year-old just wasn’t effective enough in the final third.
He quickly fell behind M’Baye Niang in the race for a starting berth, and with just four league goals from 26 appearances, he seemed to lack composure in front of the net. Nonetheless, he must be credited for persisting in spite of a midseason move falling through.
13. Mario Balotelli
15 of 27
Apps (sub): 8(12) Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Mario Balotelli’s return to Milan last summer was predicated by the striker’s acceptance of a specific code of conduct relating to his behaviour, per Corriere della Sera (h/t Football Italia). After such a disappointing time with Liverpool, he represented an expensive risk in terms of wages.
As an obligation to buy was not part of the deal, the striker had to prove himself worthy of a permanent stay with the Rossoneri, but he spent a large portion of the campaign on the treatment table with a groin injury.
When he did play, he showed flashes of brilliance coupled with a willingness to defend. His ball control and audacity made him a chief attacking threat. But with just one goal and one assist from 20 league appearances, Balotelli never quite got going.
12. Cristian Zapata
16 of 27
Apps (sub): 14(2) Goals: 1 Assists: 0
Cristian Zapata had a highly inconsistent 2015-16 season. In some matches, such as the 4-0 home defeat to Napoli and the 2-0 away loss at Sassuolo, his defending left a lot to be desired. In other games, such as the Coppa Italia final, he was solid as a rock.
At 29 years of age, it is unlikely this feature of the Colombian’s game is going to be ironed out. He is, essentially, unpredictable. This, however, is not what the Rossoneri need at the heart of their back line.
11. Riccardo Montolivo
17 of 27
Apps (sub): 31 Goals: 0 Assists: 1
Occasionally in 2015-16, Riccardo Montolivo threatened to become the leader Milan need so badly.
When young Rodrigo Ely put the ball into his own net for Napoli’s fourth in a 4-0 loss at the San Siro, the former Fiorentina man was there to help the distraught 22-year-old up off the ground. And when the team were chasing a goal that wouldn’t come in the Coppa Italia final, the captain engaged with the crowd in an attempt to lift the atmosphere.
However, Montolivo all too often went missing in central midfield. His passing was regularly lacklustre, and his lack of personality didn’t help a team without direction on the pitch. And with his contract up in June, he could be set to leave Milan.
10. Alex
18 of 27
Apps (sub): 24(1) Goals: 3 Assists: 1
Alex’s second term with Milan proved more successful than his first, as he established himself as a key member of the team as Romagnoli’s centre-back partner. The 33-year-old made up for his lack of mobility and agility with aggressive defending.
He imposed himself at both ends of the field with his aerial strength and scored some crucial goals, including the opener in an atmospheric derby win over city rivals Internazionale, which was arguably the high point of Mihajlovic’s time in charge.
9. Alessio Romagnoli
19 of 27
Apps (sub): 33(1) Goals: 0 Assists: 0
After a protracted pursuit, Alessio Romagnoli signed for Milan from Roma for an £18.75 million fee last summer, teaming up once again with Mihajlovic, with whom he spent the previous year at Sampdoria.
The 21-year-old centre-back appeared to mature physically in his first season at the San Siro, evidencing an increasing ability to win aerial duels, as shown by Squawka statistics.
Toward the end of the campaign Romagnoli also became more influential in Milan’s possession game, stepping out with the ball at feet and using his left foot to pick precise passes forward in the build-up stage.
8. M'Baye Niang
20 of 27
Apps (sub): 15(1) Goals: 5 Assists: 4
After an impressive six-month loan spell at Genoa last season, M’Baye Niang returned to Milan determined to re-assert himself upon the first team, which he did until he was ruled out for several months because of injuries suffered in a car accident at the end of February.
Prior to that, the 21-year-old had played an important role in the Rossoneri’s nine-match unbeaten streak in Serie A. It was no coincidence the team won just two of their final 11 league games without him; his movement, pace and skill were the perfect foil to Carlos Bacca’s predatory poaching style.
7. Keisuke Honda
21 of 27
Apps (sub): 23(7) Goals: 1 Assists: 3
With 1.3 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game, Keisuke Honda gradually reclaimed his first-team place on Milan's right-hand side with some hardworking displays.
The Japanese playmaker was rarely able to play in the trequartista role, where his movement and passing could be used to good effect, but he nonetheless played with remarkable consistency on the right of a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3.
6. Carlos Bacca
22 of 27
Apps (sub): 36(2) Goals: 18 Assists: 2
Carlos Bacca was Milan’s most expensive signing of the season, arriving from Sevilla for £22.5 million. It didn’t take him long to adjust to Serie A, with his 18 league goals beaten only by Paulo Dybala’s 19 and Gonzalo Higuain’s 36.
His clinical finishing and penalty-box instincts were particularly useful when given space to attack, but all too often against congested defences, the Colombian struggled to affect games.
The player commented on his notable lack of comfort dropping deep to knit play together and defending in an interview with FIFA (h/t Forza Italian Football), saying: “For a striker, Italian football is very hard. In Italy, the attacker is required to help out in other departments of the field too.”
Bacca’s goals were crucial to the team, but his specialist skill set requires the attack be built around him. That is something Milan must do in order to maximise their star striker’s qualities next season.
5. Luca Antonelli
23 of 27
Apps (sub): 25(3) Goals: 3 Assists: 1
In his first full season with the club, Luca Antonelli made the left-back position his own with some excellent performances based on effective attacking forays.
The 29-year-old’s overlapping runs were often a significant part of the Rossoneri’s offensive game, allowing him to showcase the dribbling skills that have been fundamental to his play since playing as a wing-back for Genoa.
4. Ignazio Abate
24 of 27
Apps (sub): 27 Goals: 1 Assists: 1
Perhaps one of Serie A’s most underrated players, Ignazio Abate found his best form in 2015-16 to ensure he kept the right-back berth ahead of younger challengers such as De Sciglio and Calabria.
At 29 years of age, he's showing no sign of slowing down, with his rampant forward surges, sheer pace and endless stamina reserves providing a good wide outlet. He also appeared more switched on defensively, contributing 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game.
3. Juraj Kucka
25 of 27
Apps (sub): 24(5) Goals: 1 Assists: 3
Many were unsure of exactly what Juraj Kucka would bring to Milan after he joined the club from Genoa last summer, but the Slovakian worked his way into a regular first-team place with his dynamic displays in central midfield.
His powerful attacking runs, energy and defensive work gave the team something no other Rossoneri midfielder could provide, with his individual showing in the 3-0 win over Inter his finest hour.
After that win, Mihajlovic was effusive in his praise for the 29-year-old, telling Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):
"We knew Inter were a very physical side and I expected [Roberto Mancini] to mirror our tactics, because I know him well, so it was important to win the one-on-one duels. Kucka in that sense is great because he is like a tank, he’s very hard to challenge and goes into every tackle.
"
With 2.8 tackles and 1.3 dribbles per game, Kucka showed himself to be a dependable, multi-functional player capable of breaking up opposition attacks and driving the team forward.
2. Gianluigi Donnarumma
26 of 27
Apps (sub): 30 Goals: 0 Assists: 0
Having begun this season as a youth-team player, 17-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma ended it as Milan’s first-choice goalkeeper. And during his rise, he established himself as one of the best young players in the world.
He handled the pressure of playing for such an illustrious club well, demonstrating superb reflexes and a commanding aerial presence, as well as improvements in both his decision-making and distribution as the campaign wore on.
Seen by many as the long-term successor to Gianluigi Buffon for Italy, the Juventus icon professed his admiration for the youngster, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Goal):
"Donnarumma is doing great things as he hasn't shown any fear in taking on a stadium like San Siro, despite playing for a big team like Milan. Along with showing great personality, he has great skills technically and physically. However, the thing I like most is that we are talking about a youngster who is doing all the right things, which is key in a career.
"
According to Squawka, Donnarumma was the sixth-best goalkeeper in Serie A in 2015-16, something that—given his first appearance came last October—only acts as further confirmation of his outstanding debut campaign.
1. Giacomo Bonaventura
27 of 27
Apps (sub): 31(2) Goals: 6 Assists: 8
In his second year with Milan, Giacomo Bonaventura was the club’s most influential player. He was undoubtedly the team’s most important creator, with his 2.1 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per game considerably more than any of his team-mates.
Apart from a brief period in early 2016 when the 26-year-old was unable to wield his nimble footwork and slick passing to full effect, he was the Rossoneri’s most consistent performer. He also formed a strong understanding with top scorer Bacca, enabling the striker to settle effectively into Italian football.
Per Transfermarkt, Milan won just one of the five Serie A games Bonaventura was absent from through injury or suspension, which serves to highlight just how integral the attacking midfielder was to the team throughout 2015-16.
All statistics and ratings provided by WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.
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