Mansion Sports – AC Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly considering leaving Santiago Gimenez out of the starting lineup for their upcoming Serie A midweek fixture against Atalanta on Tuesday.

According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, this decision stems from the Mexican striker’s continued struggles in front of goal, having failed to find the net in domestic competition so far this season.

Gimenez Yet to Score in Serie A

Since joining the Rossoneri, Santiago Gimenez has managed to score only one goal across ten appearances in all competitions, with none coming in Serie A. This lack of productivity has reportedly tested Allegri’s patience with the 24-year-old forward.

During Milan’s most recent match against Pisa last Friday, Allegri was seen expressing visible frustration from the sidelines and was even heard shouting at Gimenez, saying, “Wake up! Wake up! Are you asleep?”

The outburst reflected the coach’s growing dissatisfaction with the striker’s attitude and limited contribution to the team’s overall play.

Adjusting the Attack Without Gimenez

The absence of Christian Pulisic due to injury has further complicated Milan’s attacking setup ahead of the Atalanta clash.

Should Allegri decide to bench Gimenez, it is likely that Christopher Nkunku will be deployed in a more advanced role alongside Rafael Leao in the attacking line.

Additionally, the Italian coach could opt to use either Alexis Saelemaekers or Ruben Loftus-Cheek as an attacking midfielder to provide creative support behind the two forwards.

This tactical adjustment is expected to offer Milan greater offensive flexibility and address recent concerns about their lack of efficiency in the final third.

Milan’s Position in the Standings

At present, AC Milan have accumulated 17 points from eight Serie A matches, sitting just one point behind Roma and Napoli at the top of the table.

The upcoming encounter with Atalanta at the New Balance Stadium represents a crucial moment for Allegri to restore consistency and evaluate new attacking combinations in Gimenez’s potential absence.

While the decision to drop the Mexican striker carries a degree of risk, it also underscores Allegri’s firm stance on demanding optimal performance from every player amid an increasingly competitive race for the Serie A title this season.