AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli unequivocally expressed his desire to retain Ismaël Bennacer until January 2, allowing the talented midfielder to participate in the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.
As the countdown to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Ivory Coast continues, Algeria has initiated its pre-tournament preparations in Algiers.
Despite the absence of the official squad list, the Fennecs have commenced their regrouping, anticipating rigorous training sessions in Togo from January 1, 2024, before the commencement of the continental spectacle.
One of the standout players expected to feature for Algeria is Ismael Bennacer, who, being based in Italy, might encounter scheduling conflicts with AC Milan’s fixtures.
With AC Milan scheduled for a crucial cup match on Tuesday, there have been swirling speculations about negotiations between the club hierarchy and the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) to extend Bennacer’s availability.
Stefano Pioli officially confirmed AC Milan’s intentions during the press conference, stating, “The hope is that Bennacer and Chukwueze will also be available on Tuesday [to face Cagliari], I know negotiations are also going on at the moment.”
The desire to retain the services of the standout midfielder for the impending match underscores AC Milan’s commitment to fielding a formidable team.*
The outcome of ongoing negotiations and the final decision by Algeria’s national team coach, Djamel Belmadi, will significantly impact Ismaël Bennacer’s participation in the Italian Cup and the subsequent schedule with the national team ahead of AFCON 2023.
🚨 Pioli : « L’espoir est que Bennacer et Chukwueze soient également disponibles mardi [pour affronter Cagliari], je sais que des négociations sont également en cours en ce moment. » pic.twitter.com/pAt8JRZW1B
— AC Milan – FR (@AC_MilanFR) December 29, 2023
