Krzysztof Piatek is thriving with his new club AC Milan

The Polish international joined Milan from Genoa on a permanent deal through 2023 just before the January transfer window ended and has been absolutely lethal up front for the Rossoneri since his arrival.

Krzysztof Piatek wasn’t a very well known name before this season but after his world-class form in the Serie A this term, the Polak has risen to the top as one of Europe’s most ruthless finishers.

The 23-year old worked his way up the Polish football ranks, eventually settling in with Cracovia, who compete in the top division in Poland. Piatek played with them from 2016-18, where he bagged 32 goals in just 65 appearances for the club.

Genoa then came calling, whom he signed a four-year deal with worth just four million euros last summer. He has perfected his craft this year in the Serie A, scoring 26 goals in just 28 appearances across all competitions for both Genoa and Milan.

Piatek’s rise to European prominence

If you didn’t know his name before this season, that’s totally understandable. Piatek has taken Italy by storm in his first year in one of Europe’s top leagues, finishing at a higher rate than even Cristiano Ronaldo. Piatek has netted 26 times like I mentioned above, while Ronaldo has scored 21 times in all competitions for Juventus.

Last season Piatek finished third in the Polish top tier in scoring and now he’s number one in the Serie A in the goal column between league play and Coppa Italia fixtures. It’s been a rapid rise to stardom for the young Polak, who was cut just before the World Cup by his native country. It’s a good bet that Piatek will be starring for his country in the next World Cup in Qatar as their primary number nine if they qualify.

Since Piatek arrived in Milan, they are unbeaten through seven matches. Before his move from Genoa, Milan won just three of their previous nine fixtures. Genoa sold Piatek for 35 million to their Serie A counterparts; 31 million more than they previously signed him for last June. It’s crazy to think how quickly his price tag has raised, but he has been worth every single dime so far for AC Milan. Piatek has already scored more goals than Higuain did during his tenure with AC Milan before he was loaned out to Stamford Bridge.

Why he’s so lethal

Piatek has a great sense of always being in the right place to receive a ball, whether it’s running into space onto a through ball or simply taking a pass outside the 18-yard box and doing it all on his own. If he gets the ball in the box, chances are it’s going to be in the back of the net. He has a thundering right foot, scoring a handful of his goals by either hitting a ball hard with his laces or finessing it into the top corners.

He is an extremely hard worker who always retreats back into his own half to play defense and work at bringing the ball back up into the final third. Although it’s not necessarily his job, Piatek also has a talent for picking out his teammates with nifty through balls when those opportunities present themselves.

A huge reason he finishes at such a high rate is his superb first touch and release. He’s very controlled when he receives a ball and is extremely quick at getting a shot off in minimal time that usually catches the keeper off guard.

Piatek is the complete package who has a combination of speed, skill, and a world-class ability to be a clinical finisher. It doesn’t matter if it’s with his head or his feet, the youngster is netting goals at one of the highest rates in Europe.

AC Milan has one of the most exciting strikers in the world in Krzysztof Piatek.

Next. Three reasons Barca must sign Adrien Rabiot. dark

The biggest clubs in Europe will come calling sooner rather than later if he keeps up this prolific form.

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