Sulley Muntari's loan move to AC Milan is the big move
Good things come to Sulley Ali Muntari
Posted: 2012-02-01 09:41
In every transfer window there is that one transfer that catches the interest of all fanatics, not because of the fat amount of money being thrown at the doors of a club for their prized asset or a high profile player moving between adversaries of the game but a transfer that seems too out of the ordinary for professional football.
Asamoah Gyan’s astonishing loan move from Sunderland to Al-Ain was the shock move of the last transfer window in the summer, with money ostensibly the only possible reason for Sunderland to let one of their finest strikers leave and for Gyan to want to swop the Premier League for the United Arab Emirates.
But Gyan’s loan move has been outdone, in some grand style, by Sulley Muntari's loan move to AC Milan.
"AC Milan communicates having signed Sulley Muntari on a temporary contract," AC Milan posted on their official Twitter account.
Good things have come to Sulley Ali Muntari.
This winter has already been "quite a memorable one for crazy transfer activity" - but none have been quite as strange as when it comes to Muntari’s.
Having only played just four Serie A appearances under Claudio Ranieri this season, Sulley will look at the prospects of providing valued cover for AC Milan, who have been hit by an injury crisis in their midfield.
The former Portsmouth player, who Inter Milan signed for £11.6 million in 2008, has found playing time hard to come by at Inter, which alerted clubs like Napoli, QPR, Fenerbache and Galatasaray to ask for his services in the last transfer window. But it was AC Milan who will enjoy the services of the tenaciously energized midfielder.
The initial agreement between both clubs was for Muntari to move to AC Milan in the summer but after injuries to Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani and recently Alexander Merkel has meant that the services of Muntari will come in handy. Allegri must understand that Muntari's arrival at the club can propel his club to winning the Scudetto and Champions League trophies this season. The former Udinese player is a versatile midfielder, can adapt himself to create game on the left or right side in midfield, possesses high stamina, basic technique, excellent teamwork, fitness and intelligent in his passes.
On Sulley Muntari's arrival at the 18-Scudetto winning club, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said: "He comes here to do well. He's a player with a lot of physical strength and great technique. He's a good signing. He has demonstrated less than what he's worth."
"Muntari can still improve and grow. Furthermore, he can also be enlisted in the Champions League list," he added.
In the absence of Gennaro Gattuso especially, AC Milan officials will be hoping that Muntari exudes his tireless running, uncompromising and excellent agility in the runup to trophies this season and especially when the play Arsenal at the San Siro on February 15. Muntari, who is currently away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ghana, who're looking to end a 30-year trophy wait, possesses the needed leadership skills, outstanding in movement and organization, powerful shooting ability, vision to pass long, superb long-shot and physical strength to help Mark Van Bommel take control of the midfield in the absence of these injured players.
For a player who has been on the fringe benefits of Inter Milan, a move like this will be welcomed in the stale fortunes of Muntari over the last few months where has played less for his former club. It will be his last feasible shot at the top and you'll expect Muntari to give it his all.
Good things, indeed, come to Muntari.
Nii Koufie Amartey
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