AC Milan have taken the drastic step of excluding Fikayo Tomori from their squad for a pre-season friendly against Manchester United as the Serie A club attempts to force through a summer sale.
The England defender has been informed he will not travel for the fixture, marking a significant escalation in Milan’s efforts to remove a player who has entered the final year of his contract. The 28-year-old had hoped to feature during the pre-season tour, but instead finds himself frozen out of first-team activities entirely.
Financial demands lie at the heart of the deadlock. Tomori’s wage expectations have already scuppered a potential move to Portuguese champions Benfica, who approached Milan but withdrew after discovering the salary package the player requires. The Rossoneri had initially hoped to recoup €20 million for the centre-back, though they may now be prepared to accept a reduced fee to get the deal done.
This is not the first time Milan have attempted to cash in. The club tried to sell Tomori last summer and again in January, but the defender consistently refused to consider options outside Italy. That pattern continued when Coventry City and Newcastle United approached earlier this window, leaving officials with little choice but to apply pressure by denying him even a place on the bench for tour matches.
Several clubs are watching developments with interest. Liverpool and Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal are both monitoring the situation, aware that Milan’s resolve to sell strengthens their negotiating position as the window progresses. With his current deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign, the Italian side are determined to avoid losing the former Chelsea academy product on a free transfer next year.
The coming days will prove decisive. Tomori must either adjust his salary demands to facilitate a move to a league he has previously dismissed, or risk spending months in professional limbo while his contract runs down. With Milan showing no signs of softening their stance, the defender faces an unenviable choice between financial expectations and his immediate career prospects.