Sankhoun Diawara became a transfer target for Rangers in the summer. The defender joined AC Milan instead and the decision has now been proved right.

Sport Witness have covered comments from the Frenchman about his choice. He revealed that he was surprised by the Rossoneri’s approach but was satisfied with how the transfer turned out too.

He also disclosed his admiration for Milan legends like Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini. This led to him picking the former Lazio hero’s shirt number too.

After a slow start to the season, Diawara has surprisingly been heavily involved in the Milan first-team, which comes as due credit for his decision.

Transfer justified

Corriere dello Sport take a closer look at the Frenchman’s situation, noting that Diawara has stepped up when needed. The backline has been wrecked by injuries, allowing the youngster to pick up regular game time under Ruben Amorim.

He has now played five times in all competitions, featuring three times in Serie A. Most remarkably, he made a mark in the Milan derby, which also came at a key point.

As a result, Diawara’s valuation has risen considerably. He was initially signed for €3m but he is growing as an important player, as he has also filled into the gap at left-back.

The report also takes note of his quick rise to stardom, as he was playing in the second division in France last season. That is a big way of justifying the decision to reject Rangers, even if they offered an enticing project.

Our take: Diawara solving problems

Matteo Gabbia had picked up a muscle injury some weeks ago. This was ideally going to force Milan into signing a new defender but that would’ve come with a financial burden. Diawara has made sure that problem doesn’t exit, as he can also play at centre-back.

This can be a huge turning point in his career, especially as he has also played in the Europa League.

Amorim is also offering him a settled setup, which brings more out of young players. That may not have happened at Rangers, who haven’t been blessed with stability in recent years.