Milan, who are trying to get back to the top of world soccer, have been making some dubious signings and seem to be taking a risk with the recent signing of Emerson Royal. The right-back, who arrived from Tottenham for 20 million euros, has signed a five-season contract with the Rossoneri. But is this gamble on Emerson a smart one or just a hasty move by the editorial staff?
Let's look at the facts. Emerson Royal, despite having shown some potential at Real Betis, has failed to establish himself as an undisputed starter at Tottenham. Last season, he played 24 games for Spurs, but most of them as a substitute. He only played 13 times as a starter, being overshadowed by Pedro Porro, who stood out more in his position. What's more, he lives on flashes of brilliance. One moment he's good and another he's not. When a player is relegated to the bench in a team that isn't at its best either, it raises alarm bells.
Milan, in signing Emerson, seem to have ignored this signal. After all, it's curious to say the least that a club of Milan's stature, which doesn't learn as it goes along, even if it doesn't want to spend a lot of money, is investing heavily in a player who has yet to prove himself at one of the Premier League's most competitive clubs. The impression is that Milan may have fallen into the trap.
Emerson's record at Tottenham isn't exactly encouraging. He has made 101 appearances in three seasons, which is not a small number, but not impressive either. The point is that, of those games, few really showed a full-back capable of dominating his position with authority. Emerson looked more like a player of moments than of consistency, and that, for a club aiming to regain its glory in Europe, is a considerable risk.
Another point that raises suspicions about this signing is the fact that Emerson Royal has been around Europe a lot, and even with spells at important clubs like Barcelona, he hasn't managed to establish himself as a first-choice player. That in itself should be a red flag for any attentive soccer director.
Emerson will inherit the number 22 shirt, worn by another Brazilian, Kaká. There's also the financial aspect to consider. In times of financial fair play and budget restrictions, 20 million euros is not an insignificant amount, especially for a player who doesn't arrive with star status and especially with great performances. By making this investment, Milan are betting that Emerson will finally be able to reach the potential that many believed he had when he joined Betis. But this gamble could prove costly if he doesn't adapt to Italian soccer.
Emerson's arrival could also have an impact on the current squad. The competition for a place at right-back is likely to heat up, with players like Davide Calabria, who is the team's current captain, also displeasing the Rossoneri fans with his performances. In short, instead of signing a player to upgrade the position, they're left with the same situation.
There's also Alessandro Florenzi, a veteran with experience at big European clubs, who will certainly be fighting for a starting place. If Emerson can't impose himself quickly, he could find himself relegated to the bench, repeating the scenario he experienced in London.
Given this scenario, the question remains: is it worth the risk? Milan need to strengthen their defense, but signing Emerson Royal may not be the ideal solution. Soccer is a sport of uncertainty, but in some cases the risks seem unnecessary. And this could be one of those cases.
Emerson faces the challenge of proving that Milan were right to bet on him. If he succeeds, he could become one of the pillars of the Rossoneri defense and justify every penny invested in signing him. But if he fails, Milan may have thrown money away in a market where every move has to be calculated to the millimetre, something not perceived by the board.