Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila have been left out of the Milan squad for Sunday evening’s trip to Udinese, with five Milan Futuro players called up.
Ruben Amorim will travel to Udine without three of his regular starters. Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila have all been left out of the Milan squad for Sunday evening’s Serie A meeting with Udinese at the Bluenergy Stadium, which kicks off at 20.45 local time.
The news broke on Saturday afternoon. Sky Sport Italia reported that none of the three had made the list, and the broadcaster gave a separate reason for each absence.
Calf, hamstring and ankle problems
According to Sky, Rabiot is dealing with fatigue in his right calf, while Moreira has a similar complaint in the flexor muscles of his left leg. Gila is suffering from inflammation in his left ankle, which Sky put down to overload rather than a single knock.
None of the three problems has been described as a serious injury, but the timing is awkward for Amorim. All three would have been in line to return to the side after Thursday night in England, when Milan were beaten heavily in the Europa League. That evening is covered in our report on Maignan’s red card in the 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Moreira’s absence stands out. The Belgian winger was voted the club’s player of the month for September, and the official Milan announcement highlighted his habit of scoring from the bench, including two goals in two minutes in the comeback at Lazio.
Five Milan Futuro players called up
The trio join a list of absentees that already included Matteo Gabbia, Alexis Saelemaekers, Samuel Chukwueze and Terracciano. To make up the numbers, Amorim has turned to the club’s second team, with Sky naming five Milan Futuro players in the travelling party: defenders Nirash Perera and Malick Cissé, midfielder Silvano Vos, winger Lorenzo Ossola and forward Luca Menon.
There is at least one piece of good news. Football Italia report that Gonçalo Ramos, who sat out the Bournemouth game with fatigue in his left calf, had a clear scan and was back in full training on Friday, so the Portuguese striker is available again.
Chukwueze’s outlook is far less positive. The same report, citing Corriere della Sera, says the winger has a problem with his left hip, will be reassessed in 10 to 15 days and is not expected back before the end of the year.
A heavy week ahead
Sky’s summary of the absences opened with a blunt line.
“Tre titolari out per la partita con l’Udinese.”
How quickly the three recover matters well beyond Sunday. Milan host Bologna at San Siro on Wednesday 28 October, then face Inter in the derby on Saturday 31 October. Ferencváros visit San Siro in the Europa League on Thursday 5 November before a trip to Genoa on Sunday 8 November.
Milan go into Sunday’s game still unbeaten in Serie A this season, while Kosta Runjaic’s Udinese are looking to arrest a poor run of form. Rabiot, Moreira and Gila will be assessed again before the midweek fixture against Bologna.
Read also: Cissè hat-trick sends Milan past Salzburg 4-0 in the Europa League
