Since Filippo Inzaghi retired in 2012, AC Milan No.9s including Alexandre Pato and Fernando Torres have scored combined measly total of 18 goals
Rossoneri once boasted likes of Marco van Basten, George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko but are struggling for striker
AC MILAN are a shadow of the side they were ten years ago.
In 2007, they were the best team in Europe, and now they would consider Europa League qualification a successful season.
And their plight is evidenced in one incredible stat: since Filippo Inzaghi retired in 2012, the subsequent No.9s have scored a combined total of 18 goals between them.
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It’s an shocking indictment of a side which at one time boasted the likes of Marco van Basten, George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko.
Here is Milan’s No.9 roll of dishonour over the past nine years.
Alexandre Pato, 2012 — 2
The Brazilian had been No.7, but took the No.9 off Inzaghi after the Italian striker’s retirement.
However, his decline had already started a couple of seasons before.
Pato’s only two goals of the season were in the Champions League and he was sold to Corinthians in January.
Alessandro Matri, 2013-14 — 1
A journeyman striker who technically spent three seasons at Milan.
However, he was loaned out to Fiorentina, Genoa, Juventus and Lazio in that time.
Matri scored just the once in his full season at the San Siro and is now at Sassuolo.
Fernando Torres, 2014 — 1
Initially moved from Chelsea on loan and scored just once — despite having actually stated he wanted to do the shirt proud.
So it was a real surprise when the deal was made permanent in January.
But much less of a surprise when Torres was then sold to Atletico Madrid just days later.
Mattia Destro, 2015 — 3
A move to Chelsea in the summer had broken down and he eventually joined Milan on loan following the sale of Torres.
However, there was no chance of the move being made permanent following an underwhelming season in which found the back of the net just three times.
Joined Bologna at the end of the season and is still there.
Luiz Adriano, 2015-16 — 6
Came to Milan from Shakhtar Donetsk amid much potential having scoring five in one Champions League matches as well as back-to-back hat-tricks.
And he hit a relatively respectably tally of six goals across all competitions.
But, this summer, he was stripped of his shirt number and eventually sold off Spartak Moscow in January.
Gianluca Lapadula, 2016-present — 5
Italian shot to prominence in Serie B and moved to Milan despite interest from Leicester and Juventus.
After being used infrequently, Lapadula started to get a place in the team and the goals followed.
Has not been a disappointment, but is far from the levels of the Rossoneri strikers of old.