Preference between Aquilani and Montolivo

As I frequently watch Ac Milan games and consider them my second favourite side, I've found the lack of a notable signing this window a bit concerning (Although I know Milan have a habit of coming in with late big offers before windows close)

Today though I noticed transfer speculation increasing concerning the Ac Milan, Fiorentina, Aquilani, Montolivo debacle. As I understand it, if Aquilani goes to Milan than Fiorentina will keep Montolivo. There also exists the possibility that if Montolivo goes to Milan, his gap at Fiorentina will be filled by Aquilani.

My question is: What would Milan fans in this section prefer, obtaining Aquilani or Montolivo?

I believe Aquilani to actually possess more technical ability than Montolivo but the down-side is that Aquilani is always an injury concern. Both have great abilities in their own right, thats what makes it such a difficult choice....

The difference between the two players, despite many similarities, is huge.

Montolivo is a leader, a composed and confident regista who's able to dictate play, and while his style of play is really nice and smooth, he's not that gifted physically.

Aquilani, on the other hand, is Italian Football's most talented midfielder of the last few years, one who could easily have been Italy's main guy in the middle since the World Cup, but he is the ultimate ruined-by-injury example.

While Montolivo's mental power and tactical awareness could slot him in as a starter in any team in the world, Aquilani who's even one year older than Monty is still just a kid, one who needs constant direction both from the bench and from teammates.


Montolivo is such an energetic player, he's been very successful as Viola's defensive midfielder so far and as Italy's playmaker received an 8.0 from Goal.com, so it's obvious that he's an out-and-out midfielder, no matter what.

But while Montolivo is a classic midfielder, Aquilani is quite the modern type. Equipped with a nuclear right-foot and good ability on the ball, he has that ability to make a surprising difference in a given game.

Aquilani is faster, more attack-minded, more creative but less precise, with a better idea of how to send a player through. But he is like Cassano, he needs a small team to thrive in.


If I were to choose, anyway, I would go with Montolivo.

You see, Milan need players of high spirit, durability and precision.
Montolivo is able to guarantee 50 games a season, he can replace Van Bommel and fill both LCAM and RCM roles, while in total emergency could feature behind the attackers.

Aquilani can play between 0 to 50 games, he doesn't have much of a fixed position on the pitch but he sure can make us tick, he can be such a creative force on the left of our midfield trio.


I consider them almost equal, but my sense tells me Ricky Monty is a safer option.

Montolivo he has the same amount of creativity and more pace. What we truly need is a little more dynamism in the midfield. Although Aquilani would be a pretty good grab as well.

I have a poor first full impression of Montolivo from when I saw him playing for la Nazionale during the World Cup last year, completely ineffectual. Once they brought on Pirlo the whole NT was galvanised but by then it was already to late.

I have seen him only in patches for Fiorentina and I must say that this improved my opinion of him. He has an amazing range of passing and that long range shot technique is second to none.

Everyone knows though what Aquilani can bring on a good day, that incomparable inventiveness in central midfield that (as previously mentioned by Iras ) trumps Monto's creativity.

The fact remains though, Aquilani is a wild-card because who knows how many "good" days he can produce, while Monto will give you day in day out high quality consistency.

It is close, but to choose, Montolivo is the better option.

I wish we could get both since next year Gattuso Ambro Seedorf are gonna be too old!

Montolivo is less injury prone, and also can strike a great shot from distance

montolivo for sure

neither if it were my choice both are over-rated and dont deserve a spot at milan...

nichabr wrote:neither if it were my choice both are over-rated and dont deserve a spot at milan...

we need some italian blood though

seem like italian milan fans want aquilani.Really dont know who we should go far,italians know them more than we non-italians do.

I have to say if it was my choice, I'd go for Monty. Aquilani's career was destroyed when he went to Liverpool. He's too injury prone and inconsistent IMO to deserve a place in our starting XI. Whoever we buy needs to be reliable and consistent. Someone we can count on to get the job done. Aquilani would have a hard time even making the starting XI, let alone performing.

trust me ...take montolivo ...Aquilani blows how and cold to damn much

DeviAngel wrote:trust me ...take montolivo ...Aquilani blows how and cold to damn much

Thanks for the warning although I know all too well about his inconsistencies. That's the main reason I've never liked Aquilani.

Ganso wrote:

nichabr wrote:neither if it were my choice both are over-rated and dont deserve a spot at milan...

we need some italian blood though

Over half our squad is Italian though

Milantildeath wrote:Montolivo is less injury prone, and also can strike a great shot from distance

Alberto would have something to say about that...

Granted, Aquilani can be very underwhelming and very injury-prone

But I think many Milan fans are against Aquilani and are for Montolivo because Riccardo is so reminiscent of Andrea Pirlo.
I think the similar characteristics (their hairstyle included) is playing a considerable factor here

Aquillani is the type of player who will be a complete genius in one game, meh in the next three games and then get injured for a month He blows hot and cold a lot and is very injury prone. It is clear that next season we are aiming for the treble, and to seriously compete in all three competitions our players need to have good fitness (Pato )

Montolivo though inconsistent is a very good player with an impressive range of passing and a great long ranger and has much better fitness than Aquillani, will be the perfect addition to our midfield and will be invaluable our league winning objective. For me Montolivo would be the better option.

And also people are forgetting, Aquillani is valued at 17 million by Liverpool, that's why Juventus did not buy him outright while Montolivo has only one year left in his contract and is valued at 10-12 million, so not only will Montolivo be a better option but a cheaper one too.

BiasedMilanFan3 wrote:

Ganso wrote:

nichabr wrote:neither if it were my choice both are over-rated and dont deserve a spot at milan...

we need some italian blood though

Over half our squad is Italian though

a pretty old one...

Montolivo doesn't even resemble Pirlo to me. Aquilani is more like Pirlo than Montolivo has ever been IMO.

I would be content with either of them. Monto is a fine player , though. Would really like him at Milan

can i pick both??

shamr9pato wrote:can i pick both??

maybe in the playstation

ACMRox wrote:I have to say if it was my choice, I'd go for Monty. Aquilani's career was destroyed when he went to Liverpool. He's too injury prone and inconsistent IMO to deserve a place in our starting XI. Whoever we buy needs to be reliable and consistent. Someone we can count on to get the job done. Aquilani would have a hard time even making the starting XI, let alone performing.

Not sure how we ruined Aquilani.He came to us injured and having never started 20 leagues in his career.He spent 7-8 months recovering from injury that season.When he got fit towards the end of season played regularly for the last 2 months which isnt much admittedly.Then last season he was sent on loan to juve.

Its unfair to say we can destroy his career considering he basically spent 3 months in Liverpool as a fit player.If anything we improved his fitness considering he has not injured since being attended by Liverpool medical staff.

milanista99 wrote:Aquillani is the type of player who will be a complete genius in one game, meh in the next three games and then get injured for a month He blows hot and cold a lot and is very injury prone. It is clear that next season we are aiming for the treble, and to seriously compete in all three competitions our players need to have good fitness (Pato )

Montolivo though inconsistent is a very good player with an impressive range of passing and a great long ranger and has much better fitness than Aquillani, will be the perfect addition to our midfield and will be invaluable our league winning objective. For me Montolivo would be the better option.

And also people are forgetting, Aquillani is valued at 17 million by Liverpool, that's why Juventus did not buy him outright while Montolivo has only one year left in his contract and is valued at 10-12 million, so not only will Montolivo be a better option but a cheaper one too.

Acc. to his Agent we will accept an offer of 10-12mil though his Agent talk a lot of trash often that has to be said.And Juve only offered us 6mil which was derisory th say the least.

Wow, I did not expect when I made this thread that there would be such a unanimous preference for Montolivo. I suppose the Serie A fans on here no better than to label someone like Montolivo underrated, as they've watched on numerous occasions how devastating he has been in the league.

I suppose from outside the league, English, Spanish football fans would probably have a higher opinion of Aquilani, purely because they've had more exposure to him.