“Make us understand: Milan gave up Kalulu to take Emerson Royal? Is that it? Kalulu at Juve seems Ruben Dias. Emerson Royal in Milan is Emerson Royal.” This is what he wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport on September 22, the day after the draw between Juventus Turin and Napoli (0-0), electing the French defender man of the match for the Old Lady. Enough to summarize in a few lines the general thoughts of AC Milan fans, who are struggling to understand how their club was able to part ways with the former Lyonnais in the home stretch of the transfer window. Even more to send it to a direct competitor, who spent 3.3 million euros for the loan, all accompanied by a purchase option of 14 million euros, as well as three million euros of bonus and 10% on resale.
“Kalulu made a superb debut with us, becoming a starter and decisive during the title season (2021-2022), recalls a source from the Lombard club. Afterwards, everything became complicated between more or less serious injuries, an inevitable downgrade in the hierarchy and a misunderstanding around his position (central defender or right side). He has always been exemplary, but he had become the fifth central defender in the squad, behind Tomori, Pavlovic, Thiaw and Gabbia. Obviously, when a club arrives with 20 million euros on the table for a player that you had recruited for very little money… That’s also what the transfer window is..”
Last season, after an operation on his left femoral tendon at the beginning of November, which kept him away from the field for several months, Kalulu only played eleven matches. Too little for the man whose personality has always been appreciated in Milan, particularly for his seriousness, his professionalism and his ability to never make waves.
Already holder
If he himself hesitated to pack his bags, the Lyonnais by birth, in competition with other avenues this summer, such as those leading to Riccardo Calafiori and Jean-Clair Todibo, finally abandoned, ended up being convinced by the speech by Thiago Motta, who did not hesitate to pick up his phone to convince him to leave Lombardy for Piedmont.
“For me, his presence here is very importantconfided the 24-year-old defender during his introductory press conference. He wanted to recruit me, and I have appreciated his way of making his teams play for a long time. My first feelings were very good, I found a great group who welcomed me very well (…) I want to put all my qualities at the disposal of this team. And I’m going to give everything for this jersey.” After four seasons and 112 matches under the red and black, the time had probably come to breathe new life into his career.
Arriving on tiptoe in the shoes of the luxury joker, the former international Espoirs (15 caps) wasted no time in walking on his own two feet. Taking advantage in particular of Federico Gatti’s injury and the banishment of captain Danilo, he quickly established himself as the starter alongside Gleison Bremer, who was seriously injured and whose season is already over.
Pierre Kalulu during Empoli-Juventus, Serie A 24-25
Credit: Getty Images
And if Juve has only conceded one small goal in Serie A after seven days, Kalulu is no stranger to it. Whether he was aligned in the axis (which he prefers) or on the right, he always responded. Getting voted man of the match almost every time. That’s saying something. “I have always been certain of my qualitieshe confided last week to DAZN. In football, there are sometimes ups and downs. But you always have to do your best to be at the highest level possible.”
It will still have to be preserved. And avoid injuries which ended up ruining his Milan adventure. “There is no doubt about his physical integrity. Pierre always trains well and he feels in good shape“, however reassured Thiago Motta, very “happy” et “satisfied” of the performance of his defender, whose profile fits perfectly with his modern, aggressive and offensive football.
Its ease in adapting and exceeding its functions too. During the crazy victory in Leipzig (2-3) in the Champions League last Wednesday with eleven against ten, one of the most beautiful of recent years in Turin, number 15 black and white did everything. And everything stopped, statistics to back it up (4 blocked strikes, 3 interceptions, 2 tackles…). On the action of the third goal, it is he who sounds the revolt and goes up the field with the ball at his feet.
And now, a thought for the Blues?
“Defense and attack, he does everything wellwill congratulate La Gazzetta dello Sport the next day, which will give it a very nice 7.5/10. He begins his match by warding off a dangerous ball and ends it by deflecting Openda’s shot onto the post. What a rookie.” “It is simply impassable“, the Corriere della Serawhile our colleagues from Eurosport Italy will be enthusiastic about “two incredible rescues” from French.
In short, you understand: for the moment, everything is going well for Kalulu at Juve. To the point that the Piedmontese club is already considering exercising its purchase option. If he has found a smile again after his good start to the season, the man who was also courted in England this summer now hopes to return to the fold of the France team. Where he was at his best moment in Milan, to the point of receiving a pre-call from Clairefontaine. Could Didier Deschamps think about it again? Not impossible, especially if he continues this dynamic in a club that the coach particularly likes…
Related News :