Malick Thiaw was probably the greatest talent in the FC Schalke 04 squad. The 21-year-old is leaving the club from Gelsenkirchen shortly before the end of the summer transfer period and is moving to AC Milan. It is a change of economic reason.
After seven years with the Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04, the highly talented defender Malick Thiaw is moving to the Italian champions AC Milan. The clammy climber from Gelsenkirchen agreed to a transfer "due to the economically strong offer", said Schalke. According to the "Gazzetta dello Sport", the fee for the 21-year-old should be six million euros. In the meantime, there was even talk of a sum of around ten million euros.
"It was a difficult decision for us to let Malick go," said sporting director Rouven Schröder: "We always have to consider the economic aspects of all decisions - just like last winter when we still rejected a change. The general conditions now are different and financially so good that we have now approved the transfer." The 21-year-old was considered to be the greatest talent in the squad and had been with Schalke since 2015 and went through all youth teams. On Saturday he played in the 6-1 draw against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Thiaw is considered the preferred candidate of Milan coach Stefano Pioli. "Malick is a quick and intelligent player with good technique. He is absolutely suitable to play in our team." Thiaw signed a five-year contract in Milan.
Schalke wants to sign a replacement later this week. "Our plan is for us to be active again in central defense on the transfer market in order to keep the competition in the squad as high as possible," said Schröder. Sepp van den Berg from Liverpool FC is currently the top candidate. The Dutchman has few chances to play in Jürgen Klopp's team. He should come on loan. He was already on loan last season to the English second division club Preston North End.
