AC Milan striker Santiago Giménez: ‘I haven’t yet shown what I can do’

As Santiago Giménez nears a Serie A return amid mounting scrutiny of his AC Milan team-mate Christian Pulisic, he could be forgiven a wry smile.

Since suffering an ankle injury in late October, Giménez has looked on from the sidelines as Pulisic has spearheaded Milan’s title challenge with an eight-goal haul bettered only by Internazionale’s Lautaro Martínez, the division’s top scorer. 

Despite that contribution, the US international has been singled out by manager Massimiliano Allegri over “some poor passing decisions” and accused of overambitious finishing by former Italy manager Fabio Capello. It has not helped that Pulisic, struggling with a lingering hip flexor injury, has not scored since the turn of the year, and yet with Rafael Leão the only other player stepping up for Milan in the goalscoring stakes, the cavilling feels harsh. 

How Santiago Giménez’s AC Milan career has mirrored Christian Pulisic’s

For Giménez, however, the scenario is all too familiar. Last February, the 24-year-old Mexico international arrived in Milan following a €32m (£28m) move from Feyenoord, for whom he scored 65 goals in 105 appearances. Giménez hit the ground running, emerging from his first four games in the Italian top-flight with two goals and an assist, before a dip in form coincided with a slump in results that would put paid to Milan’s European aspirations and eventually cost manager Sergio Conceicao his job. 

Giménez nonetheless rebounded strongly at the end of the season, weighing in with three goals and an assist in his final four games, but the summer brought whispers that Milan were considering further additions to their front line. Like Pulisic now, the striker found himself in the invidious position of scoring goals while being cast in an unforgiving spotlight. 

Pulisic, with whom Giménez has formed a close bond, had warned of the sky-high expectations that would accompany life at the San Siro – “They don’t settle for second place,” was the gist of the American’s message – but the forward is grateful for the patience Milan have shown him, even if Niclas Füllkrug has been signed on loan from West Ham in his absence. 

Santiago Giménez: ‘Milan must see something in me’

“They must see something in me because, even though I haven’t performed as well as I would have liked, and I haven’t yet shown who I am and what I can do, they have faith in my abilities and have defended me on many occasions when I’ve been criticised,” Giménez told ESPN Mexico. “I really appreciate that.” 

“Milan is a team I’ve dreamed of playing for since I was a child. Watching Dida, Kaka, Crespo, Ronaldinho and Pirlo gives me goosebumps. Representing their jersey is a great honour for me.” 

Pulisic is not the only member of the current team with whom Giménez has established a strong working relationship. He is neighbours with Luka Modric, who likewise fulfilled a childhood dream when he moved to the club last summer following a glittering career at Real Madrid, and the Croatia international’s knowledge of Spanish has helped the pair forge a strong friendship. Giménez is under no illusions about his place in the local pecking order, however. 

‘Luka Modric lives next door to me’

“We’ve shared some really good times because he speaks Spanish and, more importantly, he lives next door to me,” Giménez said of the former Ballon d’Or winner. “An interesting anecdote is that he came to my house, knocked on the door and asked for the massage bed. His physiotherapist also came. 

“He knew I had one, and when he asked me, I was with my family, and everyone wanted a photo with him.” 

Giménez, who is about five to six weeks away from a return, may not be the biggest star on his street. But he is determined to re-establish his place in the first team and repay Milan’s faith.