GdS: ‘Made for the Diavolo’ – why Gimenez and Joao Felix could be a perfect pairing

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·5 February 2025

GdS: ‘Made for the Diavolo’ – why Gimenez and Joao Felix could be a perfect pairing

AC Milan made the decision to change up their attack during the winter transfer window, bringing in Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, there is a lot of excitement that has been generated after the hectic end to the transfer window, so much so that there will be 55,000 fans at the stadium for the game against Roma.

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In the last 48 hours alone 7,500 tickets were sold and it was largely thanks to the business done. Considering that the weather forecast says 2 degrees at San Siro and at least 22 under the blanket in the living room, it’s not bad at all.

Santi and Joao

The AC Milan fans are waiting to see what the new additions bring. They haven’t yet understood what this strange couple is like – a Mexican and a Portuguese – but they sense that they are two cold-blooded players.

In his first press conference, Gimenez was a man of ice and not for light-eyed. He responded quickly – quick execution – and was as efficient as he was in the box.

The main concepts: “I can promise that I will give everything, we can win a lot. Playing at Milan was a dream and I’m here because God wanted it. The number 7? It has many meanings, Shevchenko used it and in the Bible it is the perfect number.”

An Argentine journalist said: “He didn’t give a wrong answer.” Yes, also because he didn’t take any risks. On the pitch, he’s the same: he’s not Garrincha, but he scores goals in many ways. With his feet, with his head, in the area, attacking the space in behind. Milan will not ask for anything else.

Joao Felix, on the other hand, is coldly elegant: he has a sharp face, a slim body, the essential play of someone who doesn’t feel the need to overdo it because he knows how to do everything with the ball.

Joao has always venerated Kakà and it shows on the pitch: Ricky was three times stronger but something in his style has changed. Joao seems harmless, a little absent, then he activates and makes the difference with a through ball, a one-two, a run and a shot.

How they will play

Gimenez and Joao Felix will start on the bench tonight – after all, they have just arrived and the latter is not in great shape – but will soon be on the pitch together. Santiago with 7, Joao with 79.

Milan signed Joao Felix to play mainly as an attacking midfielder or second striker and in his career he has often spread out to the left. He is effectively a wild card for the attack, guaranteeing flexibility.

Gimenez, on the other hand, does only one thing, but it is what is needed: the centre-forward role. They can easily play together in a two-pronged attack: Santiago in the area and Joao just behind, ready to send him towards goal.

The variations are obviously welcome: Joao Felix as a No.10 in a 4-2-3-1, at the moment the most fascinating solution; Joao on the left in the trident, if Leao needs to rest; even Joao on the right, a less probable but still valid solution.

The data

The numbers speak for themselves. Gimenez scored a goal every 76 minutes at Feyenoord this season, impressive.

In the current Champions League, he is the best striker in terms of goals per minute (one per hour), scoring percentage (63%) and touches per goal (just 17): this means he doesn’t waste time talking, he does what is needed.

Felix is decidedly less prolific but has shots like a champion and a goal-scoring habit that comes in handy: he scored 10 at Barcelona last season and this season, with Chelsea, he already had 7 in around 950 minutes. For a creative attacking midfielder, not bad.

The impression is that with them it works like with certain couples of friends: they are different and for this reason they can have fun together. In addition to the Rossoneri, they have in common a passion for video games: tonight, at 9pm, San Siro will play.