Time for "Arrivederci Superpippo"?

He’s one of the most prolific goal scorers of  the modern game. The second highest goal scorer in all European competitions and the player with the most number of hat-tricks(10) in a league where goals are as scarce as diamonds. The league, of course is Serie A and the player, Filippo Inzaghi, who’s currently playing his 10th season for Italian giants AC Milan.

It has not been a busy year so far for the former Juventus man who has spent a major part of the season on the injury table and the other minor part on the bench.

To add to his woes, Milan seems to have moved on to flamboyant strikers who’re strong on the ball, unlike Inzaghi who relies only on his intuition and poacher instincts.

He is not a part of Milan’s 25-man Champions league squad for 2011-12 and neither is he, so far, a part of Allegri’s Scudetto Mission Part 2.

Of course age is not on his side and he’s not the same ‘Superpippo’ anymore but is that the only reason?

Find out as Sportskeeda analyses the possible reasons for his exclusion and what the future holds for the man who enjoys scoring goals like the fat kid enjoys cake.

 

PIRLO’S TRANSFER TO JUVENTUS

Milan offloaded Pirlo to Juventus and this move saw a lot of criticism from the fans. They felt that with Pirlo’s departure, the Milan midfield would lose its sheen and it has been proved right. Allegri, who had his own valid reasons to sell Pirlo, has not yet found that perfect midfield combination. Another repercussion of Pirlo’s transfer concerns Inzaghi. Inzaghi is predominantly an off-the-ball player whose strength lies in his positioning and over-the-shoulder-of-the-defender movement and this is where Pirlo’s absence comes into picture.

 “Everyone knows what Andrea has given to this club and we will all miss him, but this is life and we must accept these things,”- Pippo Inzaghi on Pirlo’s transfer

Pirlo loved to lob the ball into the penalty area and this meant Inzaghi just had to be at the right place at the right time and he would be in on goal. But that can’t happen anymore, since Pirlo now plays his home games in Turin and not in Milan.

 

ABSENCE OF A TREQUARTISTA

Milan, over the last decade, has seen two of the best trequartistas, Portugal’s Rui Costa and Brazil’s Ricky Kaka. Inzaghi was injured for most of the time Rui Costa was in Milan, and apart from the goal against RC Lens in the group stages of the 2002 edition of Champions League, there is nothing substantial to claim Inzaghi linked well with Rui Costa.

However, it was not the same with Kaka. Inzaghi combined well with the Brazilian maestro and this combination worked wonders for Milan in the later stages of the Ancelotti era. The second goal against Liverpool in the Champions League final, and the 2 goals against Boca Juniors in the Club WC final deserve a mention.

In the last transfer window, rumors about a possible Kaka return engulfed San Siro and it was not a surprise that Inzaghi was vocal in his support for this move, only to see it fall apart as there were a few financial issues.

Inzaghi thrives on creative midfielders. Ibrahimovic’s and the Robinho‘s can afford to drop a little deep as they’re adept at dribbling and ball control, unlike Inzaghi whose dribbling is only as good as my French.

 

CARE TO CROSS?

One aspect of football vanishing from the Milanese game is crosses from the fullbacks. Though Ignazio Abate at right-back is a fairly good crosser, he’s not good enough. His strength, like Cafu, lies in his tireless runs on the flank.

On the left flank is either Antonini or Zambrotta and neither of them is a good crosser of the ball.

Thus, in the current Milan set-up, there is less emphasis on a striker’s positioning and poaching abilities.

And lesser the emphasis on the above-mentioned attributes lesser the need for players like Inzaghi.

 

INJURIES

Persistent injuries have always been a major cause of concern for Inzaghi. Knee injuries have stayed with him right from when he started playing for Milan in 2001. It worsened in the game against Palermo last season when Pippo’s knee was in trouble again and this time it seemed career-threatening. But Pippo, like always, has fought his way out of it and now looks in better shape.

 

WHAT NEXT?

Inzaghi has always been loyal to the Red-Black jersey which he’s referred to as ‘Second Skin’.

He has, in the past, rejected offers from several clubs to stay at Milan.

 

 “If at 38 years I was deprived of playing football I’d go crazy, although I must admit that it would be a shame not to finish with this shirt, I feel everyone here loves me, I’ve had a lot of good times in my career, so it’s a shame for the injury I picked-up last year. Now I am happy, I have trained for two months with the team, I am also pleased to have done well. Milan is the priority; I will never be a problem for this team. I will try to go forward and still be important for this club; I think I can still do well. My dream is still to finish here. [My agent] has had meetings with some teams, but nobody believes I can leave Milan. I think that is the right way. The fans at the San Siro make me shudder.”

 

The first installment of his loyalty was repaid when Milan offered a contract extension before the current season started when they knew very well that letting Inzaghi stay would mean more money spent on injuries.However, anyone who’s followed football for long enough will know that things can change in a matter of days. With the MLS and the Russian clubs always on the lookout for veterans who’re past their prime, Inzaghi would easily fit the bill.

Every Milanista would agree that when it comes to Inzaghi, its more of emotions than anything else.

And if ever Milan and Inzaghi decide to part ways, it’ll be an emotional day for the Rossoneri faithful.

Grazie Superpippo!