Saelemaekers Thrives at Roma: Did AC Milan Make a Mistake?

Roma’s resurgence under Claudio Ranieri continues, with the team securing their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions. This recent success has lifted them out of the relegation zone, a position unfamiliar to the capital club in the past two decades. While Paulo Dybala’s brace stole the headlines, it was Alexis Saelemaekers who truly caught the eye with his outstanding performance.

Deployed as a right wing-back in Ranieri’s 3-4-2-1 formation, Saelemaekers showcased his versatility and impact on both ends of the pitch. His heat map revealed a player covering the entire right flank, contributing significantly to both defense and attack. With an impressive 84% pass completion rate, 77.5% of which were in the opponent’s half, Saelemaekers played a crucial role in three of Roma’s five goals.

The Belgian’s resurgence raises questions about AC Milan’s decision to loan him out. With the Rossoneri struggling to find consistency on the right flank, both offensively and defensively, one can’t help but wonder if Saelemaekers could have been the solution to their current problems. As fate would have it, Milan will face Roma in a week’s time, providing an opportunity to directly compare Saelemaekers’ impact with that of his former teammates.

As Chukwueze, Okafor, and Calabria struggle to make their mark at Milan, Saelemaekers’ form at Roma serves as a reminder of the importance of player management and development. The upcoming Milan-Roma clash will undoubtedly shed more light on whether the Rossoneri made the right decision in letting Saelemaekers go, even if only temporarily.