AC MILAN are a shadow of the side they were ten years ago.

In 2007, they were the best team in Europe, and now they would consider Europa League qualification a successful season.

7 Filippo Inzaghi was a sensational striker Milan have struggled to replace Credit: Epa

And their plight is evidenced in one incredible stat: since Filippo Inzaghi retired in 2012, the subsequent No.9s have scored a combined total of 18 goals between them.

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It’s an shocking indictment of a side which at one time boasted the likes of Marco van Basten, George Weah and Andriy Shevchenko.

Here is Milan’s No.9 roll of dishonour over the past nine years.

Alexandre Pato, 2012 — 2

7 Alexandre Pato celebrates one of only two goals he scored with the No.9 shirt Credit: EPA

The Brazilian had been No.7, but took the No.9 off Inzaghi after the Italian striker’s retirement.

However, his decline had already started a couple of seasons before.

Pato’s only two goals of the season were in the Champions League and he was sold to Corinthians in January.

Alessandro Matri, 2013-14 — 1

7 Alessandro Matri was loaned out four times at Milan and struggled at club Credit: Getty Images

A journeyman striker who technically spent three seasons at Milan.

However, he was loaned out to Fiorentina, Genoa, Juventus and Lazio in that time.

Matri scored just the once in his full season at the San Siro and is now at Sassuolo.

Fernando Torres, 2014 — 1

7 Fernando Torres' brief time at AC Milan just yielded one goal Credit: Getty Images

Initially moved from Chelsea on loan and scored just once — despite having actually stated he wanted to do the shirt proud.

So it was a real surprise when the deal was made permanent in January.

But much less of a surprise when Torres was then sold to Atletico Madrid just days later.

Mattia Destro, 2015 — 3

7 A familiar sight for Mattia Destro who struggled during loan spell at Milan Credit: Getty Images

A move to Chelsea in the summer had broken down and he eventually joined Milan on loan following the sale of Torres.

However, there was no chance of the move being made permanent following an underwhelming season in which found the back of the net just three times.

Joined Bologna at the end of the season and is still there.



Luiz Adriano, 2015-16 — 6

7 Luiz Adriano fared OK, but was overall a disappointment with No.9 shirt Credit: Getty Images

Came to Milan from Shakhtar Donetsk amid much potential having scoring five in one Champions League matches as well as back-to-back hat-tricks.

And he hit a relatively respectably tally of six goals across all competitions.

But, this summer, he was stripped of his shirt number and eventually sold off Spartak Moscow in January.

Gianluca Lapadula, 2016-present — 5

7 Gianluca Lapadula has started well, but surely won't be an AC Milan great Credit: EPA

Italian shot to prominence in Serie B and moved to Milan despite interest from Leicester and Juventus.

After being used infrequently, Lapadula started to get a place in the team and the goals followed.

Has not been a disappointment, but is far from the levels of the Rossoneri strikers of old.