<p>While most players are currently away on international duty—<strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/christian-pulisic">Christian Pulisic</a></strong> included, with the <strong>United States men’s national team</strong>—<strong>AC Milan</strong> have finalized the departure of a midfielder for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.</p>



<p>“<em><strong>With great pleasure, we announce that the Algerian international and AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer will strengthen GNK Dinamo!”</strong></em> the Croatian club announced Friday in a statement published on its official social media channels. <em>“Bennacer is arriving in Zagreb, where he will undergo medical examinations before officially signing the contract.”</em></p>



<p>The midfielder, born in France but representing the <strong>Algeria national team</strong>, joined <strong><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ac-milan/">Milan</a></strong> in 2019 from <strong>Empoli </strong>in a transfer valued at <strong>€16 million</strong> (approximately $18.7 million). He spent six seasons with the Rossoneri through 2025, registering a total of 178 appearances and 8 goals.</p>



<p>However, Bennacer had seen his role diminish at the Italian side in recent times. Earlier this year, he was loaned out to <strong>Olympique Marseille</strong>. Upon his return to <strong>Serie A</strong>, head coach <strong>Massimiliano Allegri</strong> did not give Ismael a spot in the squad and left him out of the first three matches of the season.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">S velikim zadovoljstvom objavljujemo da će alžirski reprezentativac i veznjak AC Milana Ismael Bennacer pojačati GNK Dinamo! <br><br>Dinamo i AC Milan postigli su dogovor o jednogodišnjoj posudbi s opcijom otkupa ugovora. Bennacer dolazi u Zagreb, gdje će obaviti liječničke preglede… <a href="https://t.co/FaIGa55n5y">pic.twitter.com/FaIGa55n5y</a></p>— GNK Dinamo (@gnkdinamo) <a href="https://twitter.com/gnkdinamo/status/1963741295039398302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><em><strong>“Dinamo and AC Milan have reached an agreement on a one-year loan with an option to buy out the contract,”</strong></em> the Croatian club confirmed in the same statement. According to journalist Matteo Moretto, <em><strong>“Dinamo Zagreb covers 40% of the midfielder’s salary.”</strong></em></p>


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<h2>AC Milan’s summer departures</h2>



<p>AC Milan have been one of the most active clubs in Italy this summer when it comes to roster changes. Following the arrival of new head coach Allegri, the team underwent a significant transformation aimed at moving past last season’s disappointing campaign, which ended without European qualification.</p>



<p>Ismael Bennacer now joins a long list of players who have left Milan during this transfer window. Some, like <strong>Joao Felix </strong>and <strong>Kyle Walker</strong>, simply concluded their loan deals and moved on. Others—including Bennacer, <strong>Alvaro Morata</strong>, and <strong>Alex Jimenez</strong>—have been loaned out through the end of the season.</p>



<p>In terms of sales, Milan brought in over €157 million this summer, according to <em>Transfermarkt</em>. The most notable of those deals was the transfer of <strong>Tijjani Reijnders </strong>to <strong>Manchester City </strong>for €55 million. Other outgoing players included <strong>Malick Thiaw, Theo Hernandez, Noah Okafor, Pierre Kalulu, </strong>and <strong>Emerson Royal</strong>.</p>



<h2>What’s next for Milan?</h2>



<p>Once the September international break wraps up, stars like Christian Pulisic, <strong>Luka Modric</strong>, and <strong>Santiago Gimenez</strong> will return to Italy to reunite with Massimiliano Allegri’s squad. AC Milan’s next match is set for Sunday, September 14, against <strong>Bologna</strong>. The following weekend, they’ll visit <strong>Udinese</strong>.</p>

Christian Pulisic loses teammate as AC Milan send midfielder out on free loan

Christian Pulisic loses teammate as AC Milan send midfielder out on free loan - World Soccer Talk

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<p>The all-Italian tie between Milan and Napoli saw the hosts pick up the win in the first leg. Just 10 days after thrashing Napoli in Naples, 4-0, Milan again defeated the likely <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> champions. This time, it was in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Champions League</a> quarterfinals.</p>



<p>While the scoreboard shows a triumph for Napoli, the key was the defensive effort from Stefano Pioli’s side. Another shutout against one of the high-flying teams in Europe is an achievement on its own. </p>



<h5>Early chances in the first half</h5>



<p>It was Napoli on the road who put together the better of the two chances early on. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia&nbsp;had a golden opportunity inside the first minute. A quick attack from Napoli on the righthand side led to the ball falling at the Georgian’s feet inside the six-yard box. His shot, though, met two Milan defenders, who prevented the ball from hitting the back of the net.</p>



<p>Rafael Leao had a terrific opportunity after 25 minutes for Milan. The Portuguese picked the ball up inside his own half and dribbled beyond three Napoli defenders. In a quick two-on-one, Leao created the space and went for goal. However, he dragged the left-footed shot narrowly wide of the post, meeting collective moans bellowing in from around San Siro.</p>



<p>Milan would eventually grab the advantage with one of those rapid counterattacks. Brahim Diaz picked the ball up in the middle of the park and made a fantastic turn to escape two Napoli defenders. Diaz progressed with teammates on either side of him and in front. Diaz played the ball out to the right, only for Rafael Leao to put it back into the middle. It eventually fell to Ismaël&nbsp;Bennacer, who powered the ball past Alex Meret in the Napoli net. It was Bennacer’s first Champions League goal.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ismaël Bennacer sends the San Siro into commotion!<br><br>A classic counter from Milan. 😤 <a href="https://t.co/1yAH5vjONu">pic.twitter.com/1yAH5vjONu</a></p>— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1646237902085705729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>In first-half stoppage time, Milan almost doubled its advantage on a corner. Simon Kjær rattled the crossbar on a thunderous header from six yards out. However, the ball slammed off the woodwork and away, and Napoli was able to clear out the danger.</p>



<h2>Red card seals first leg between Napoli and Milan</h2>



<p>In the second half, Napoli looked likely to score. Kvaratskhelia had some marauding forays forward, but the best opportunity came on one of the Georgian’s crosses. He lobbed a ball up where Elif Elmas, the replacement for an injured Victor Osimhen, headed the ball on goal. Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan deflected the ball onto the crossbar, and it went out for a corner.</p>



<p>Twenty-five minutes after the attempt, Napoli’s chances of a comeback in the game took a massive hit. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa picked up a yellow card in the 70th minute for a mistimed challenge. Just four minutes later, Anguissa committed <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1646252274279391232" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">another silly challenge</a>, good enough for a second yellow card and a dismissal.</p>



<p>To make matters worse, Napoli centerback Kim Min-jae picked up a yellow card. Based on accumulation, the South Korean misses the return leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in a week’s time.</p>



<p>Late on, Napoli had two fantastic opportunities to equalize, both from headers. The first required a reactionary save from Mike Maignan to deny Giovanni di Lorenzo. After the ensuing corner, di Lorenzo whipped a ball in, where Mathías Olivera nodded the ball just over the Milan net.</p>



<p>Milan must protect that lead on Tuesday, April 18, in Naples. At home in the Champions League, Napoli has been a force. The side has four wins in four games in this campaign, with a combined score of 14-3 over those four games.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Gribaudi/ImagePhoto</em></p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">San Siro feels like a rock concert tonight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ACMilan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ACMilan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MilanNapoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MilanNapoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/3HJc7weCMR">pic.twitter.com/3HJc7weCMR</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1646243026551861248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Milan, which defeated Napoli in Serie A play just 10 days ago, found another win in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg.

Milan defeat Napoli again, this time in UEFA Champions League

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Christian Pulisic loses teammate as AC Milan send midfielder out on free loan

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Milan defeat Napoli again, this time in UEFA Champions League