Gattuso plays down rumours of Higuain’s departure
Gonzalo Higuain is linked with a reunion with his former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea but the Argentine talisman hasn’t asked to leave AC Milan, claims manager Gennaro Gattuso.
The 31-year-old completed a loan move to the San Siro in the summer following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus for a fee of €18 million with an obligation to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
However, the move hasn’t brought the best out of Higuain, with the 31-year-old only netting 6 goals in 15 Serie A outings for Milan.
AC Milan and Juventus are set to battle it out for the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and there have been rumours that the 31-year-old is unlikely to play a significant role in that game, having missed a penalty and received a red card against his parent club in November.
But Gattuso told a media conference: “I base my decisions on how players train during the week and how they work with the staff and their team-mates.
“At this moment, I have to repeat the same words: there are many rumours, but Higuain is training well, working with everyone just fine and is at our disposal.
“We’ll see tomorrow whether he plays or not. He has to decide what to do, how to resolve this issue, but right now he is training with great professionalism. We’ll see.
“If he plays, it’s because I see him in good shape and relaxed. Either he’s a great actor or he’s really within the team, is always chatting and kidding with his team-mates.
“I agree that after the missed penalty and red card against Juventus, something happened in his head. We’ll see tomorrow. As I said, it’s not easy for a coach to change the idea of a player, so I have to concentrate on putting out the best line-up for the situation and getting the best out of every player.
“I want to reiterate that Higuain has never told me he wants to leave. I am waiting for that.
“I want to be honest, I didn’t even want to talk about Higuain, as we’re here for the Supercoppa. That seemed the fair thing to do for a team.
“I am not upset. I too was a player for many years, I realise there are moments when we all see things differently and cannot judge how someone else thinks.
Gattuso, however, has made it clear that he won’t be at all upset if Higuain leaves San Siro to join Chelsea.
“If the glass is half-full or half-empty, it remains the same glass. We’ll see what happens. I want to see this Supercoppa, I hope it is a great game for us, but I won’t be upset or let down if he goes.”
