For the First Time in 100 Years, AC Milan Has No Number 9

JAKARTA - AC Milan is competing in the Italian Serie A without a number 9, or center forward. Following the departure of striker Luka Jovic, Milan has been without a player who can play in that position.

Jovic left Milan after his contract expired. Milan did not renew the Serbian striker's contract because he failed to prove himself as a goal-getter up front.

Only after releasing Jovic has Milan been without a striker synonymous with the number 9. And, this is the first time in 100 years that Milan has been without a center forward.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri actually still has forward Santiago Gimenez and later signed Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea. However, Gimenez has yet to meet expectations. Meanwhile, Nkunku has just joined and is still adapting to Serie A.

As it turns out, Allegri often plays a "false 9," deploying Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic as center forwards. If there is no false 9, Allegri deploys a 3-5-2 or 3-4-1-2 formation.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, as quoted by Football Italia, Milan's failure to secure a center forward means the club, for the first time in 100 years, has been without a player worthy of wearing the number 9 shirt.

Historically, Milan has had goal-scoring machines wearing the number 9 shirt. Some have fulfilled the demand by scoring numerous goals, but others have been sluggish, like Patrick Kluivert. Despite a strong start to the season, Kluivert failed to achieve the same prowess as at Ajax Amsterdam and only spent one season at Milan.

Before Kluivert's arrival, Milan had striker George Weah, a threat to Serie A defenses.

After the Weah era, the number 9 shirt has been worn by a series of forwards including Alexandre Pao, Mattia Destro, Mario Mandzukic, Olivier Giroud, and most recently, Jovic. However, among them, only Filippo Inzaghi has shone.

Now, following Jovic's departure, no Milan player has the number 9 shirt. Gimenez will wear number 7, Leao will wear number 10, and Pulisic will wear number 11. Nkunku will wear number 18.

So, who will wear number 9? Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is a candidate for the number. The problem is that Vlahovic's high salary makes it difficult for Milan to acquire him.