Milan want to retain Brahim

Brahim Díaz had not played as a starter for Milan since March 21, against Fiorentina, when he was decisive with a goal for the victory of his team (3-2 at Franchi). Stefano Pioli, however, decided last week that the man from Malaga could be the key man in the most important game of the season, the visit to Juventus last Sunday. A bet that someone defined as risky, and that everyone sees as a winner.

The Madridista was the best among the Rossoneri, creating the only dangers in the first half, in which he scored a great goal, and, in the second half, forcing the possible penalty of the sentence, which Kessié wasted. He had to leave the field at 70 'due to discomfort, but those minutes were enough for the entire Italian press to define him as the man of the Rossonero game along with Tomori, on a historic night. The Milanese had not won for 10 years at the Vecchia Signora stadium, which they left out of the Champions League positions. A goal that, after eight years of waiting, the Milanese now have very close. For the return to the top European competition Maldini will try to reinforce the squad and his idea is to stay with Brahim, who humbly accepted his role in the team.

He was not an untouchable starter, but when he took to the field he often made a difference: he has six goals and three assists in 1687 minutes played. His 21 years and yesterday's performance, when he had enormous pressure on him, confirmed that his room for improvement is enormous, and they know it at Milan. Maldini tried to get a purchase option during the negotiation with Madrid, which always opted for a “dry” assignment of a course. In June it will be time to talk about his situation with the meringues again, and no scenario is ruled out. Brahim in Italy is very happy and the club is delighted with his commitment and his performance: the Rossoneri will try to keep his services for at least another season.

That ball boy from Málaga

The ball boy is the smile of football. The hope of receiving a ball cleared by your idols and giving it back to them with the dream of one day taking their place. It was 2012 when a young Brahim Díaz (Málaga, 1999) occupied that job at Málaga and fantasized about being like the great star of that team, Isco, who soon after would arrive at Madrid. Almost a decade later, Brahim follows in the footsteps of his then-idol. He turned professional, came to City as a kid and ended up signing for Madrid two seasons ago, being younger than Isco when he signed for the white club. To get blanked out, Madrid gave him to Milan and, in the San Siro, Brahim has shown in one year that he is ready to return to the Bernabéu.

Brahim has played more than 1,000 minutes in a team that has fought for Serie A for much of the season and has players of the level of Ibrahimovic, Çalhanoglu, Theo, Rebic and Leao in offensive positions. He has fought with all of them to gain a niche and has managed to score six goals with only 21 years. The last of them, last Sunday against Juventus, opened the can against the Bianconeri (0-3) and brings the Rossoneri closer to the goal of qualifying for the Champions League, something they have not achieved since the 2013/14 season.

In Milan they are delighted with Brahim and will negotiate with Madrid to retain him for at least one more year. The ball is on the white club's roof.