Malick Thiaw has seen something of a revitalization in recent weeks, and AC Milan have a ‘new’ resource available thanks to it.

2024 was a strange year for Thiaw, and his presence in Milan diminished, to the point where a summer departure seemed very possible. However, he is now claiming to be the starter again, leaving Fonseca with a nice headache.

On Day 1 of Serie A, a disastrous game actually wrote to him from the picturebut the German did not stop fighting. Instead, he worked to recover, and did so, marking the occasion by scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It could have been a lot different though. That Calciomercato.com suggests, with Stefano Pioli as head coach of the Rossoneri, Thiaw probably would have been a Newcastle United defender. Thiaw still wanted a chance under Fonseca, given that he saw his profile as a match for the Portuguese head coach’s style.

His ability on the ball allows him to be effective in Fonseca’s set-up style and he rarely missed a pass on Tuesday.

We only have to look back a few weeks to see the centre-back fourth in Diavolo’s defensive rankings, but now, Thiaw has ‘conquered’ Fonseca and will continue to fight for continuity.