Suso's Turnaround from Fringe Squad Member to Key Player at AC Milan Is Complete

Inside six months, Suso has turned his career around.

The AC Milan winger entered the summer of 2016 in a state of uncertainty that had almost become perpetual. His future, unlike his obviously high skill level, was unclear. However, last Sunday, his fast transformation from fringe squad member to key player was certified as he scored a double against city rivals Inter Milan in their 2-2 draw.

For those that don’t watch Serie A on a frequent basis, his star turn in the Derby della Madonnina, one of Italian football’s most prestigious matches, came as a surprise. But for those more enthused by calcio and those who have watched him more regularly, such a performance had been coming.

The Spaniard, who turned 23 years old the day before the clash with Inter, has always had the makings of a good player. He made his senior debut with Liverpool at the age of 18 after impressing for the English club’s youth and reserve sides but, despite a productive season on loan in Spain’s top tier with Almeria, he found opportunities hard to come by at Anfield.

In January 2015 he moved on, signing a four-year contract with Milan. But the change of scenery didn’t work out initially.

During his first six months with the club, he failed to find concerted game time under then-head coach Filippo Inzaghi. Making just two league starts and five appearances overall, he was handed few chances on the pitch to assert his abilities.

This theme continued into the 2015-16 season, where, under the stern auspices of Sinisa Mihajlovic, Suso would be granted one single league outing. Having moved to Milan to play football, his first full campaign quickly became a tedious and hopeless affair.

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Week after week, regardless of the jeers that rained down on him from the stands, Alessio Cerci would be picked on the right wing. And, when the Italian wasn’t playing, Keisuke Honda would take his position.

Suso’s low ranking within the Milan squad hierarchy at the time was further emphasised by the events of January 2016, where, just one year after joining, he was loaned out to Genoa in order to make room for the return of Kevin-Prince Boateng, who had been released by Schalke.

Fortunately, the temporary move proved a blessing in disguise.

Like M’Baye Niang before him, Suso benefited greatly from working with Gian Piero Gasperini, who was then in charge of the Grifone. He played regularly, earning 15 starts, and flourished within the fluid, dynamic style put in place by the coach. Scoring six goals, he returned to Milan with enhanced self-belief and a boosted track record.

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If his legitimacy as a Serie A player was under question, he had provided answers during his time at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. He was halfway to a turnaround, and in newly appointed Vincenzo Montella, he found a coach more open to including him than Mihajlovic and Inzaghi had ever been.

The opening pre-season friendly under Montella offered substantial evidence of the new and improved Suso. Away from the limelight in a clash with Bordeaux in France, he found the net twice to ensure a 2-1 victory for his team.

Since that friendly, he has been more assertive and increasingly accurate in and around the final third. With the confidence of his new coach, along with the knowledge gained during his loan spell at Genoa, the young forward has become a more threatening proposition to Italian defences this term.

Where before he seemed not to know whether a shot or a pass was appropriate, now his decision-making in attacking areas is effective. And, while he previously played as if in a rush to prove himself, now he possesses greater serenity. His movements, positioning and self-awareness are far more considered, something that has a lot to do with the tactical clarity afforded him by Montella.

The Milan boss has stayed resolutely loyal to a rough 4-3-3 system this season, occasionally switching to more of a 4-2-3-1 during games. Within this shape, Suso has been virtually ever-present on the right wing, drifting from the flank into more dangerous areas between opposition lines.

And, having been in the lineup for 12 of 13 league fixtures, he has conclusively ended any debate over who the right-sided attacking role belongs to, relegating Honda to one solitary start.

Suso has undoubtedly been aided by this added certainty. Of Milan’s 21 Serie A goals this term, he has been directly involved in eight, setting up four for team-mates and scoring four himself. This makes him the most productive of the club’s attackers, with Carlos Bacca his nearest challenger on six goals and one assist.

Going beyond mere internal comparisons, the 23-year-old has arguably been one of the best offensive players in the whole league. Indeed, according to Squawka.com’s statistics, only Roma’s Edin Dzeko and Torino’s Andrea Belotti—both strikers—have contributed more in their all-round attacking performance.

Consistent selection, positive displays and a more refined end product were all on show from Suso prior to last Sunday, but he was lacking a standout individual performance in a big match. This changed in last Sunday’s derby.

Beforehand, he had stated that he would walk home were he to score two goals and Milan win. It was a noteworthy promise considering he lives 50 kilometres away from the San Siro. After a pulsating clash in which he played a crucial role, he wisely clarified his comments.

“I wanted to have a chance, and Sinisa Mihajlovic only gave me one chance that went badly,” he said in an interview with Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia). "I went to Genoa to prove to everyone that I was worthy of Milan. We didn’t win, so I won’t walk home. It seemed almost impossible to score a brace, but I did it—and yet we still drew.”

Suso opened the scoring against Inter with a wonderful curled effort before finding Milan’s second with some intricate dribbling followed by a calm, placed finish.

While those goals weren’t enough to ensure victory for his side, he was vital in their earning a 2-2 draw. On the ball he was almost untouchable, completing five dribbles. And, unsurprisingly, he was fouled more times than any of his team-mates.

That individual showing was enough to confirm the progress Suso has made inside the last six months. Having gone from the fringes to a valued squad member, then to regular first-teamer, he is now a core component within Montella’s starting lineup.

And there appear to be few limitations regarding just how much further the technician can go.

Suso’s age is no barrier, suggesting there may be yet more improvement down the line. Other clubs have begun to take notice, too—in the aftermath to last Sunday’s derby, Calciomercato reported that German giants Borussia Dortmund have been observing the player recently.

On top of all of the above, his international prospects are promising. Spain national team coach Julen Lopetegui included him in a provisional squad for La Roja’s friendlies against England and Macedonia earlier in November, and he could be encouraged to give the player his first senior cap on the back of his latest performance.

Suso’s start to life with Milan was tough. But, through regular playing time, excellent statistical performances and a game-changing individual display in the Derby della Madonnina, his turnaround has been completed.

All statistics provided by WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated.