French veteran striker Olivier Giroud made his way into AC Milan’s history books. His efforts last season helped the team win the long-awaited title. And despite his age, the 36-year-old target man has so much class that coach Stefano Pioli isn’t ready to give him up.Milan will offer Giroud a new contract with a salary in the region of $3.7 million, some $500,000 more than the current one. The former Arsenal and Chelsea forward got 17 goals in the first season and added six this year. Numbers and leadership have convinced the club to put a lot of trust in him again. He certainly deserved his pay rise, but the new deal isn’t just an act of gratitude.##NAJAVA_MECA_7014764##Yesterday’s meeting between the Rossoneri management and the player’s agent, Michael Manuello, was positive: the parties will take another day for final assessments and then update again. There is no next appointment already on the agenda, but the feeling is that it will result in the signature until June 2024.Last season, the goalscoring duty has been split up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Rafael Leao and Giroud. This year, the Frenchman has had to do it alone. In the future, he will hand over the baton to a younger striker. Maybe Charles De Ketelaere will finally start to deliver on his vast potential. The young Belgian is yet to score his first Milan goal despite playing 17 times already.🎥 Watch five out-of-the-ordinary goals v Torino 🔝 🎥 I 5 migliori gol rossoneri contro i granata a San Siro🔝 #MilanTorino #SempreMilan #VinciPremiConStarCasinòSport @StarCasinoSport pic.twitter.com/Otpnl2y49R— AC Milan (@acmilan) February 10, 2023 Giroud will lead the line as the Rossoneri take on Torino on Friday night in an attempt to get their season back on track in the wake of the Derby della Madonnina defeat last weekend. Zlatan is back in contention, but Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori and Ismael Bennacer remain injured, as well as long-term absentee Alessandro Florenzi.Milan are currently sixth in the standings, with tonight’s opponents one place below. There is just a point between Pioli’s side and the Champions League spots, so their season hasn’t quite slipped out of their grasp yet.SERIE A – Matchday 22Friday22.45: (1.92) Milan (3.50) Torino (4.70)Saturday17.00: (2.05) Empoli (3.40) Spezia (3.70)20.00: (4.30) Lecce (3.40) Roma (2.00)22.45: (2.50) Lazio (3.35) Atalanta (3.05)Sunday14.30: (2.15) Udinese (3.50) Sassuolo (3.60)17.00: (2.25) Bologna (3.25) Monza (3.60)20.00: (1.90) Juventus (3.50) Fiorentina (4.60)22.45: (1.18) Napoli (7.25) Cremonese (15.0)Monday20.30: (1.90) Verona (3.60) Salernitana (4.50)22.45: (8.50) Sampdoria (4.50) Inter (1.45)***odds are subject to change
