Santiago Gimenez arrived at Milan amid great expectations, and for a brief moment, he looked set to deliver on them. The Mexican forward had a dream start, scoring three goals in his first seven appearances for the Rossoneri, quickly winning the hearts of the fans.
Since his arrival in Italy, Gimenez has been working hard to integrate into life at San Siro. On the pitch, he quickly made an impact. His debut in the Coppa Italia saw him assist Joao Felix, and in his first Serie A match against Empoli, he found the back of the net after coming off the bench.
More goals followed, including one in the Rossoneri’s ultimately disappointing Champions League clash against Feyenoord. His goal-per-minute ratio has been strong, outpacing previous Milan strikers like Alvaro Morata, who struggled to make his mark.
However, in the past few weeks, the 23-year-old’s form has waned. He has failed to score in the club’s last three league matches, with his only recent contribution being an assist for Rafael Leao in the draw against Bologna. With Milan’s season unraveling—a slide down the Serie A table, elimination from Europe, and tactical uncertainty—the Mexican striker has been caught in the middle of the crisis.
Despite this, there is still faith in him. He remains Milan’s first-choice striker, and while the Red and Blacks have suffered, his determination and work rate on the field have not been questioned.
What did Sergio Conceicao say about Santiago Gimenez?
With Milan struggling, questions have been raised about Gimenez’s recent dip in form. Is he still recovering from an injury? Has he struggled with the transition to Italian soccer?
Milan boss Sergio Conceicao addressed the concerns ahead of their upcoming clash against Lecce, offering a measured response to the criticism Gimenez has faced. “He’s working. He has come to a new league, and that’s not easy at all—it’s different in Italy. There’s always a period of adaptation, it’s absolutely normal. We haven’t neutered his quality by putting a player next to him.”
“We’re working on it, and he’s very focused on his work. He’s had a good week of training. I’ve seen many players who have come to Italy, see [Mateo] Retegui, and they struggled initially. It’s not easy to come to Italy and score 15-20 goals straight away. He wants it, and I want it too, but he’s working.”
Road to redemption
Milan’s season has gone from bad to worse, and their hopes of securing European soccer now rest on a strong finish to the Serie A campaign. While the Champions League may be out of reach, a Europa League or Conference League spot is still possible. For that to happen, Santiago Gimenez needs to rediscover his goalscoring touch.
His numbers in his first few weeks under Conceicao suggest that he has the ability. What he needs now are goals that truly matter—match-winning strikes that bring in three points. Gimenez remains a key figure not just for the Serie A giant’s present but for its future.
The club’s global following has grown with his arrival, and Milan have received increased media coverage from Mexico and South America. The forward’s presence in the squad is an investment for the club, not only in terms of goals but also in terms of expanding the club brand.
