AC Milan advanced to the Coppa Italia round of 16 with a 3-0 victory over Lecce at San Siro. However, the night’s loudest cheers were reserved for Santiago Gimenez.
The Mexican forward ended his goal drought, netting his first of the season, bringing an end to months of speculation regarding his future with the Serie A side.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring in the first half, converting a close-range opportunity after receiving an assist from Davide Bartesaghi. This goal came just two minutes after Lecce’s Jamil Siebert was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to ten men. Milan capitalized on this advantage, with Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic each contributing goals for a decisive 3-0 victory.
Gimenez made his move to AC Milan from Feyenoord for a reported €37 million in January, making him one of the priciest Mexican players ever. He quickly made a name for himself by scoring in his opening two matches, but his performance dipped soon after, sparking rumors of a possible departure, with clubs like Roma, Brentford, and Newcastle showing interest.
Despite the speculation, the 24-year-old chose to stay, confirming his desire to fight for his spot at San Siro. He received support from new manager Massimiliano Allegri, who acknowledged his important role in the recent victory against Bologna.
In an interview with Mediaset following the game, Gimenez expressed his relief over finally scoring, stating: “As a striker, you must score goals. In the last few games, I’ve had chances, but the ball just wasn’t going in. The crucial thing is to score one so that more can follow.”
Addressing the transfer rumors from August, he remarked: “As a child, I dreamed of playing for AC Milan. I’m in my dream team, and I want to fulfill my dreams while wearing this jersey. Leaving was never on my mind.”
The Rossoneri now face two significant Serie A matches, going up against league leaders Napoli on Sunday before heading to Juventus on October 5. Since joining Milan, Gimenez has scored seven goals in 25 appearances, and with his first of the season now achieved, supporters are optimistic that he can regain the form that made him such a coveted signing.
Image Source: Santiago Gimenez @ Instagram
