In the high-stakes world of Serie A football, a significant transfer fee often translates into immediate, towering expectations. For Santiago Giménez, AC Milan`s much-touted striker, his journey has quickly become a captivating, if somewhat concerning, saga of unfulfilled promise and the relentless pressure to perform. As the 2025 season gets underway, the narrative for the former Eredivisie sensation is less about glory and more about grappling with gravity.
Santiago Giménez, 24, during a match.
The Grand Entrance: From Dutch Darling to Milan`s Hope
Before donning the iconic red and black, Santiago Giménez was a name whispered with reverence across European football. At Feyenoord, he wasn`t just a striker; he was a phenomenon. His predatory instincts saw him dominate the Eredivisie and shine brightly on the Champions League stage, netting seven goals in nine appearances. With Olivier Giroud`s departure leaving a gaping void in Milan`s attack, the hunt for a prolific goalscorer was on. The Italian giants, desperate to resolve their goal-scoring woes, saw Giménez as the answer, sanctioning a hefty €28.5 million move, complete with a tantalizing package of bonuses.
The initial signs were nothing short of electrifying. An assist against Roma, a debut goal as a substitute at Empoli, followed by another at San Siro against Verona. The chants of “Santi subito!” (Santi immediately!) echoed through the stands, a testament to the belief that Milan had found their next talisman. It seemed the investment was already paying dividends, and the narrative of the €30 million saviour was firmly taking hold.
The Sudden Silence: When Goals Become Elusive
However, the initial euphoria proved to be a fleeting illusion. Following his promising debut burst, Giménez`s goal output dwindled. From November until April, only a solitary goal against Venezia found its way into the net, followed by a brace against Bologna in May. Even his Champions League campaign for Milan, which ironically culminated against his former club Feyenoord, was marked more by questions than by decisive moments. The doubts, initially whispers, grew louder, almost taking tangible form around the striker. Rumours of an immediate summer exit circulated, until Giménez himself dispelled them with a social media post, proclaiming, “The only truth is that the league is about to begin. And it will be an incredible season.”
Yet, his first outing of the new Serie A season against Cremonese offered a starkly different reality. Handed a starting spot due to a Leao injury, Giménez`s performance was, to put it mildly, a significant disappointment. His stat sheet painted a grim picture: a mere seven successful passes, eight lost balls—one directly leading to Cremonese`s second goal—and a meagre twenty touches on the ball in total. The verdict from the terraces and pundits alike was unanimous: he appeared both “out of form and out of schemes.”
The Anatomy of a Struggle: Form, Fitness, and Fortune
One might attribute this struggle to a delayed pre-season, a common ailment among international players. Giménez`s commitments with the Mexican national team in July meant he only joined Milanello in early August. To be thrust into a starting role barely twenty days later, in a league as tactically demanding as Serie A, is a formidable challenge for any player. The current coach, while publicly defending and encouraging Giménez, acknowledging his professionalism and dedication, cannot ignore the on-field evidence of a player disconnected from the team`s rhythm.
The transition from the free-flowing Eredivisie to the rigorous, often pragmatic, Serie A is a well-documented hurdle. What makes a player an unstoppable force in one league can render them seemingly ineffectual in another, especially if the physical and tactical adjustments aren`t instantaneous. The €30 million price tag, initially a badge of honour, has perhaps transformed into a psychological anchor, weighing down every touch and decision.
The Path to Redemption: A Second Chance, A Single Goal
Despite the initial flop, Milan and the coaching staff remain committed to granting Giménez a second chance. The arrival of a young forward like Harder, for example, is not seen as a direct threat to his role but rather as an opportunity for more tactical flexibility. The spaces for a resurgence are there, provided Giménez can rapidly regain his physical brilliance and integrate more seamlessly with the squad. Misplaced passes and errant touches are often symptoms of a player not quite at peak condition, both physically and mentally.
An early opportunity for redemption might present itself in the upcoming match against Lecce. Should Leao remain sidelined, the spotlight will once again fall on Giménez. In football, stories can turn on a dime. The weight of expectation, the whistles of the crowd, the frustration of a missed chance – all these can be erased by one decisive moment. Just a single goal, a flash of the old brilliance, could be enough to rewrite the narrative, silence the critics, and reignite the hope that once surrounded AC Milan`s €30 million man. Whether Santiago Giménez can seize this chance and transform the scrutiny into salvation remains the most compelling question of Milan`s nascent season.
In the theatre of football, where fortunes swing with every kick, Santiago Giménez`s journey reminds us that talent alone is often just the opening act. The real performance is in overcoming the struggle, finding form under duress, and ultimately, fulfilling the promise that came with such a hefty price tag. The curtain is still up, and the audience, as ever, is impatiently waiting.
