The return of F ikayo Tomori, which is causing much debate among Milan fans, could turn out to be less negative than expected. The English defender, considered a sure departure for the whole summer because of a sub‑par season and the club’s restructuring, found himself confirmed in Rúben Amorim’s squad right at the final market moments.

The Rossoneri management therefore chose not to spend on a new centre‑back, keeping the Englishman in the squad. In terms of quality and experience, Tomori is rightly positioned as the third choice (and first alternative) behind the starting pair of Gabbia and Gila. Both, however, do not offer total physical guarantees, as recent injuries show (the latest is the captain’s knee problem, doubtful for the match against Juventus). Completing the five‑defender package are De Winter and Diawara, who would rank behind the Englishman, if at the top, in the pecking order.

Why Tomori's confirmation can work?

First, an economic assessment played a role: given the sizable summer investments without any precedent exits, buying another defender at the last minute would have entailed the concrete risk of keeping a heavy salary on the books, as already happened with Bondo.

At the same time, the player’s management remains a gamble for the Rossoneri environment. After being labelled a ‘failure’ and exposed to various criticisms, even from Amorim himself, much will depend on his motivation in the coming months:

The negative scenario: without the right commitment, the Englishman could quickly slip to the fifth‑choice role or even be dropped from the squad until January, effectively nullifying the benefits of his return.

The optimistic scenario: a surge of pride could revive him and convince the club to continue counting on him for the future.

Not to forget a significant detail: the Englishman is still one of the few survivors from the squad that won the 19th Rossoneri Scudetto in 2022.