Who are the big winners and losers if Gonzalo Higuain joins AC Milan?

Gonzalo Higuain looks to be headed to AC Milan, having reportedly agreed a season-long loan move from Juventus.

The Argentine forward is moving to San Siro after Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo headed to Turin earlier this month.

Higuain, who was once thought to be a target of new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri, will now link up with Gennaro Gattuso instead, with centre-back Leonardo Bonucci heading in the opposite direction.

Milan will pay an initial £16 million for the loan with the option to make the move permanent for £32m at the end of the season, according to the Guardian.

So who are the winners and losers of the deal?

Winners

Leonardo

AC Milan’s general manager and former player vowed to reinstate Milan back to its former glories when he took up his role, and he’s certainly helped his cause with the capture of Higuain.

The Argentine hitman is exactly the kind of profile of an elite player AC have been calling out for for a number of seasons.

Milan scored 56 in the league last term and conceded 42; they were quite simply not dealing in enough goals. A top striker has been a necessary addition under Gatusso since he took over in 2017.

The arrival of Higuain will help rectify that. His signing is a real masterstroke on the part of Leonardo.

Alvaro Morata

It has been a very happy week for the Chelsea striker, first seeing the birth of his twin sons and now Gonzalo Higuain’s move to AC Milan.

Higuain had been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, which would likely have seen Alvaro Morata either depart Stamford Bridge after just one season or else be demoted to the role of back-up striker.

Some reports had claimed the Spaniard was open for a move away, having failed to live up to expectations under Antonio Conte but with Maurizio Sarri now at the helm, Morata looks likely to be given another chance to prove himself.

With Higuain now on his way to Milan, Morata looks certain to be leading the line for Chelsea when they kick off their Premier League campaign against Huddersfield Town on 11 August. And even if the reports were to be believed about Morata’s wishes to leave Chelsea, there is now an open space at Juventus for the Spaniard – with whom he enjoyed arguably the best spell of his career to date. Win-win for Morata.

Leonardo Bonucci

The centre-back returns to Juve for the season as part of the deal, just a year after he joined the club for £37m. And you can bet he’ll be happy with this outcome.

His move to Milan always seemed a bit odd. Signing Bonucci was the centre-piece of AC’s frantic spending last summer but the Italy captain didn’t really enjoy his time at the San Siro and besides, he must know he still has a role to play at Juve – which is a much stronger side – with Chiellini ageing. Games such as April’s 0-3 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League underline this notion moreso.

Bonucci is 31 and will be chuffed to be back in Turin, with Ronaldo playing in attack, no less.

Losers

Maurizio Sarri

If reports in Italy are to be believed, Maurizio Sarri wanted his old charge at Stamford Bridge.

He wasn’t able to secure the services of his forward, and Chelsea instead go into the new season reliant on Morata and Olivier Giroud.

Chelsea missed out on the Champions League spots last term and quite clearly need a bit more firepower, even if Eden Hazard and Willian stay at Stamford Bridge, which isn’t necessarily nailed on.

Just how much does Sarri wish he got his man? Time will tell.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Big Ronny will be slightly gutted that it was decided Gonzalo Higuain didn’t fit into Max Allegri’s squad after his arrival.

The two played together for four seasons at the Bernabeu for Real Madrid, scoring 250 league goals between them in that time, and they could have dovetailed quite nicely.

Juventus spent almost £100m on bringing in the services of 33-year-old Ronaldo – the Old Lady had to offset that financial outlay through player sales, and Higuain was that man.

That said, Ronaldo would have been the star man whether the Argentine was at the club or not. At Milan, Higuain is the star, perhaps it’s for the best for both.

Nicola Kalinic

The Croatia forward’s awful summer may well continue after the arrival of Higuain.

Nicola Kalinic infamously fell out with Zlatko Dalic in Croatia’s first game of the World Cup after he refused to enter the match, blaming a back injury.

The 30-year-old was sent home and didn’t get to enjoy his nation’s run to the final.

Meanwhile, he only managed six goals for the Milanese club last term, not good enough for a Milan side intent on a Champions League place.

With Higuain’s arrival, it’s more than likely Kalinic will be shipped out.

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