Milan cut ties with forgotten midfielder Bennacer ahead of Qatar move
Quick summary
AC Milan have terminated their relationship with midfielder Ismaël Bennacer, who is set to move to Qatar after falling out of favor at the San Siro.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceIsmeal Bennacer has reportedly terminated his contract with Milan, which clears the path for him to join Al-Gharafa SC in the Qatar Stars League.
Milan finally cut ties with Bennacer Bennacer has been on Milan’s books since 2019 and has racked up 178 competitive appearances for the Rossoneri, but has not featured for the side since the 2024-25 campaign.
He has since spent time on loan with Marseille in Ligue 1 and with Dinamo Zagreb in the Czech top flight.
JANUARY 11: Ismael Bennacer looks on before the Coppa Italia match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 11, 2023 in San Siro, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) Bennacer had been a midfield regular for Milan and made 31 league appearances the last time the Rossoneri claimed the Scudetto in 2021-22, but has found it difficult to re-establish his position in San Siro after suffering a major knee injury towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio , the Algerian has now terminated his contract with the Rossoneri and is expected to join Al-Gharafa in the Qatar Stars League. His contract had been due to run for another year, until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Source attribution: this article content is based on the linked publisher feed/source. Chance adds independent soccer context, impact analysis, entity links, and related news.
What happened
AC Milan have parted ways with Algerian midfielder Ismaël Bennacer, who had become a peripheral figure in the squad. The 27-year-old, who joined Milan from Empoli in 2019 and was a key part of the 2021-22 Scudetto-winning side, had struggled with injuries and form in recent seasons. Bennacer is now expected to complete a move to a Qatari club, ending his six-year spell at the club. The termination frees up wage space and a squad spot for Milan's summer rebuild.
Chance analysis
Bennacer's departure represents the end of a once-promising tenure at Milan. After being instrumental in the 2021-22 title win, persistent knee injuries derailed his trajectory, and his stock dropped significantly. For Milan, this is a pragmatic squad-clearing move that frees up salary budget heading into a crucial transfer window. For Bennacer, a move to Qatar signals a career reset at a lower competitive level, likely driven by financial incentives and reduced pressure.
Milan shed a high-earning fringe midfielder and free up budget for summer signings; Bennacer exits European football for the Qatar Stars League.
Bennacer was already irrelevant to Milan's first-team plans; his departure has minimal immediate impact on upcoming match predictions but signals wage bill restructuring for the club.