Goncalo Ramos faces mounting pressure at AC Milan after netting only one goal in his first five appearances across all competitions this season. The Portugal international's sluggish start has reignited anxieties among supporters regarding the club's long-standing struggles to find a reliable talisman.
Following a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Benfica in the Europa League, Italian media heavily criticized the forward's lack of offensive impact on the pitch. Reports indicated that Ramos completed his third consecutive match without registering a single shot on target.
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SubscribeFurthermore, statistics highlighted his isolation in the final third during the European fixture, managing just four touches inside the opposition box and losing possession 16 times. Such underwhelming numbers have amplified doubts surrounding his hefty price tag.
Ramos joined the Rossoneri from Paris Saint-Germain last summer for a reported 75 million euro fee including add-ons, arriving with sky-high expectations to solve the club's chronic centre-forward dilemma.
AC Milan History Weighs on Iconic Shirt Number
AC Milan has spent years searching for a definitive elite center-forward, only to see numerous high-profile acquisitions falter under the immense weight of the iconic jersey. Over the past decade and a half, only Filippo Inzaghi and Olivier Giroud have managed to truly honor the legacy attached to the coveted number.
A long list of notable names has attempted to conquer the famous shirt with little lasting success, including Fernando Torres, Gonzalo Higuain, Andre Silva, and Krzysztof Piatek. Other short-term occupants like Mario Mandzukic and Niclas Fullkrug similarly failed to break the infamous jinx.
The inability of successive marquee signings to establish consistent goalscoring form has baffled analysts and frustrated fans who remember the golden era of prolific Milan strikers. This historical baggage now weighs heavily on Ramos as he attempts to turn his season around.
Managerial staff and club hierarchy face increasing demands to support the struggling forward while weighing alternative tactical options, such as providing rising young prospects with extended playing time to revitalize the team's attacking threat.