In the summer transfer window, Aston Villa tried to sign Pervis Estupian from AC Milan. A deal didn’t go through and the decision to keep the player has been backed.
Sport Witness covered how the two clubs appeared close to an agreement for the defender. He had been keen on the transfer, as it would have ended a rather disappointing spell at the San Siro.
But Milan soon pulled the plug on the move, as Ruben Amorim wanted to test Estupinan for his system. This led to Aston Villa signing Matteo Ruggeri, who has already made his debut under Unai Emery.
Now, more has emerged about Estupinan, as the Rossoneri proved key in breaking down discussions over an exit.
Amorim decision seen as positive
Journalist Francesco Letizia spoke about the Ecuadorian on her Youtube channel, shedding light on how Milan also rejected Benfica’s move for the player.
This is because Amorim likes his profile and wants to bring more out of him.
She said – via MilanNews: “Record reports that Benfica, AC Milan’s next opponent in the Europa League on matchday one next Wednesday at 8:45pm at San Siro, was very close to signing Pervis Estupinan from AC Milan in the final days of the transfer window, essentially last week.”
“But Ruben Amorim, just as he did with Aston Villa in the first part of the transfer window, shortly after the World Cup, said no, he put up a wall.”
Adding more, Letizia noted Amorim’s admiration for the player, who is the wing-back that the Portuguese always likes for his system.
“This shows us something important – Estupinan isn’t there by chance. AC Milan has rejected his transfer not once, but twice.”
“So we also understand why Pervis Estupinan is being proposed as a starter at this time. Evidently, this isn’t the case for Ruben Amorim, because Pervis Estupinan’s promotion—I repeat, not once, but twice—officially certifies that the AC Milan coach likes the Ecuadorian national team full-back, formerly of Brighton and Villarreal.”
A sale would’ve made sense from a financial sense but would’ve left Milan short tactically.
“A transfer that, in my opinion, from a market economy perspective, could have objectively made sense, especially given the kind of path Milan is planning to embark on, namely stars and youngsters. Pervis Estupinan is objectively not a star, much less a youngster, and so in my opinion it could have been accepted. But not for Amorim.”
Our take: Things could yet go wrong
The former Brighton player hasn’t exactly been sparkling at Milan this season. He has started two games but he is yet to settle into Amorim’s system.
There is still a chance things do not go to plan for the 28-year-old. Davide Bartesaghi is growing into his role at wing-back and this led to Amorim starting him against Venezia two weeks ago. Alexis Saelemaekers can also play at wing-back, as shown in the past.
So if Estupinan doesn’t turn things around, Milan will regret not selling him when the time was right.
