Five Serie A matches and one goal have left Gonçalo Ramos under an unforgiving spotlight at Milan, where a fee of more than €70 million has inevitably raised the standard by which every early performance is judged. Hernán Crespo, now in charge of Atlas in Mexico, believes the Portuguese forward should not be reduced to that opening return, though he accepts that the price has made the debate unavoidable.
Key takeaways
- Ramos has scored once in his first five Serie A appearances for Milan.
- Milan’s investment of more than €70 million has intensified expectations around their new centre-forward.
- Crespo described Ramos as a good player and an excellent striker, but not an automatic elite-level scorer.
- At Paris Saint-Germain, Ramos recorded 53 goals across 131 appearances during his last three seasons.
- Ramos’ work rate, pressing and combinations with team-mates are seen as major parts of his contribution.
A price tag that shapes the conversation
Crespo declined to pass a definitive verdict on Milan’s recruitment, stressing that he works as Atlas coach rather than as a Milan executive. Yet his assessment was clear: Ramos has qualities, and the goals should arrive, but his record does not suggest a forward who has always scored at an exceptional rate.
His 53 goals in 131 PSG outings amount to fewer than one every two matches. Crespo also noted that Ramos made a valuable contribution in Paris without becoming an undisputed regular under Luis Enrique, even as PSG won the Champions League in consecutive seasons.
For that reason, Crespo argued that the player should be viewed as a high-level squad option rather than simply labelled a top player. Milan supporters, he suggested, were entitled to expect a prolific scorer after such a large outlay, but Ramos’ career numbers offer a more nuanced picture of the forward they have signed.
More than the finishing numbers
The former striker’s defence of Ramos centred on the work that can be missed when a centre-forward is assessed only through goals. Ramos is prepared to run, compete with defenders and put the collective first. He drops towards the ball, links play and creates room for midfield runners and other attackers.
Crespo said those movements matter, as do assists, coordinated attacking runs and sustained pressing against opponents. A striker is naturally expected to score, particularly one acquired for such a substantial fee, but he can still serve the side through the wider demands of the role.
Ramos has been Milan’s hardest-running player so far, a trait Crespo considered worthy of appreciation. The Portuguese does not avoid the physical contest and repeatedly works to recover possession. Crespo would not dismiss him on the basis of the opening five league games, although he acknowledged that the transfer cost makes every missed chance and every modest scoring spell a more sensitive issue.
