Milan’s Top Scorer Expected To Shine
in Derby
Personal information
Full name: Jeremy Menez
Date of birth: 7 May 1987
Age: 27
Place of birth: Longjumeau, Essonne, France
Height: 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position: Forward/Winger
Club information
Current team: AC Milan
Number: 7
Youth career 1994–1995: CA Vitry
1995–2000: CFF Paris
2000–2001: CSF Bretigny
2001–2004: Sochaux
Senior career2004–2006 Sochaux 63 Appearances, 7 goals
2006–2008 Monaco 62 Appearances, 14 goals
2008–2011 Roma 112 Appearances, 12 goals
2011–2014 PSG 110 Appearances, 19 goals
2014– Milan 30 Appearances, 16 goals
National team2002–2003 France U16 14 Appearances, 12 goals
2003–2004 France U17 17 Appearances, 6 goals
2005 France U18 6 Appearances, 6 goals
2005–2006 France U19 9 Appearances, 3 goals
2008 France U21 3 Appearances, 0 goals
2010– France 24 Appearances, 2 goals
At a certain point, it’s hard to deny the numbers: AC Milan’s Jeremy Menez is
second among Serie A scorers, and he deserves credit. Those 16 goals are
somewhat deceiving. Half of them are penalties. But when you’re up there with
Cristiano Ronaldo in any category—only the Real Madrid star has scored more
from 12 yards—it’s not so bad.
Menez joined AC
Milan after falling out of favour at Paris Saint-German and has made his name
as an attacking midfielder or versatile winger for Monaco and Roma in the past.
However, with Milan looking slightly toothless in the number nine department
this season following the sale of Mario Balotelli to Liverpool, the Frenchman
has led the line with aplomb for the Rossoneri this term. Menez went from being
a substitute on a star-studded squad to the main attraction. He is reborn under
Filippo Inzaghi. It was Inzaghi, after all, who personally went to Ibiza to
convince Menez. Still, the first-year coach does not want any praise—at least
publicly—even if Menez is the only real success that Inzaghi can claim this
season. Menez has poked some critical goals ensuring valuable victories for Milan
and turning potential defeats into draws or even victories. Despite not having
been used in a similar position in the past, the 27-year-old has displayed the
movement and eye for goal, making him arguably Milan’s Player of the Season.
Had this experiment to play Menez as a central striker not materialised, Milan
might well be in the lower reaches of the division.
Milan are
currently in eighth place in Serie A, but could have been a lot worse off.
Menez has saved as many as 25 points with his goals—roughly 60 percent of Milan’s
current points total (42). The 27-year-old is now the guy keeping other players
on the bench. How the roles have changed. Inzaghi played him from the start of
the season, and Menez has not slowed down. He once went eight matches without
scoring but then duly hit the net four times in the next three games. If
there’s any stretch without a goal, he has made up for it. But it’s clear,
Menez is profiting off all the guaranteed playing time that he never had
before. He is the main man by default. He has been developed at Milan as a
false nine out of necessity. Milan did not really have any trustworthy strikers
to give Menez any competition. As good as the Frenchman has been, it is worth
evaluating the contribution of the squad’s other attackers, as at times the
France international has looked like the team’s sole offensive threat. Following
Fernando Torres’ lacklustre spell in Milan, the Rossoneri swapped the
ex-Chelsea forward for Atletico Madrid’s Alessio Cerci. The former Torino
playmaker has yet to show his best form since returning to Italy, but this is
to be expected given his lack of regular first-team football in the Spanish
capital over the last six months.
There is no
refuting that Menez is thriving on a subpar team. On much better clubs, the
Frenchman simply did not cut it—neither at AS Roma nor at PSG. As PSG signed
better players, his playing time went down until he was an afterthought. He
could not break the 10-goal barrier or make an impact. He has done that and
more at Milan. Even as the fans protested during the match against Cagliari
last month, with the club slumping on the field and off, it was Menez who went
on to earn the win, almost single-handedly. He is the only entertainment the
Rossoneri can offer right now. Had Menez not adapted to a new position with
such ease, a rather toothless-looking Rossoneri could well be in even more
strife than they are already in. He could well further his fan club if he makes
an impact in the Milan Derby.
