AC Milan will be without Santiago Giménez for Friday’s Serie A match against Udinese. The former Feyenoord striker picked up an injury last weekend during the league game against Fiorentina.
AC Milan came away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Udinese on Friday night in Serie A, a result that brought temporary relief to a team struggling to find consistency this season.
However, the win came without the presence of striker Santiago Giménez, whose absence has not gone unnoticed during this turbulent period for the club.
The Mexican forward, who joined Milan from Feyenoord amid high expectations, was forced to sit out the trip to Udine after sustaining a knock during last weekend’s clash with Fiorentina. Giménez had come on as a second-half substitute for Tammy Abraham but was involved in a collision with goalkeeper David de Gea. Though the initial contact raised concerns about a potentially serious injury, Milan boss Sergio Conceição reassured fans in Thursday’s press conference that the injury was not severe. Nevertheless, he confirmed that Friday’s fixture came too soon for the striker to be risked.
“Giménez is recovering well,” Conceição said. “It wasn’t anything major, thankfully. But we’re at a point in the season where we can’t afford to take chances with players who aren’t fully fit. We need everyone at 100%.”
Giménez’s absence was particularly notable given his role in the early part of the season. After arriving in Italy, the 23-year-old hit the ground running, scoring key goals and quickly earning the admiration of the San Siro faithful. His movement, work rate, and finishing ability seemed to give Milan a new attacking dimension, and for a while, he was regarded as one of the standout additions of the season.
But football can be unforgiving. That initial scoring burst has faded, and Giménez now finds himself in the midst of a seven-game goal drought in Serie A. For a striker, especially one still establishing himself in a new league, such a dry spell can weigh heavily. Critics have started to question whether the early form was just a purple patch, while fans are eager to see him rediscover his confidence in front of goal.
Still, within the club, there remains belief in Giménez’s abilities. “Every striker goes through moments like this,” Conceição noted. “What’s important is that he keeps working, stays mentally strong, and takes his chances when they come. He’s a fighter, and we have no doubt he’ll bounce back.”
The win over Udinese, secured through a scrappy second-half goal from Christian Pulisic, was far from glamorous but came at a crucial time. Milan has struggled for rhythm all season, particularly in away matches, and with European spots hanging in the balance, every point now carries added weight. The Rossoneri currently sit ninth in the Serie A table a position that falls well short of the club’s ambitions.
The pressure is growing both internally and externally. Supporters have grown restless with inconsistent performances and a lack of attacking fluency. Injuries have disrupted squad cohesion, and even key signings like Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have had mixed results in terms of impact. In that context, Giménez’s return to form is more than a personal milestone it could be vital to Milan’s chances of rescuing their season.
The road ahead is challenging. Milan faces a demanding schedule that includes clashes with top-six sides, and any hopes of qualifying for European competition will require not just wins but convincing performances. Conceição knows this, and so do the players.
For now, Friday’s win offers a small platform to build on. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. And once Giménez returns to full fitness, all eyes will be on whether he can help lead the resurgence many at the club still believe is possible.
