Gonçalo Ramos is set to make his first start for Milan this afternoon, in the friendly against Chelsea in Jakarta at 14:00 CEST, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The most expensive signing in the club's history was brought in to fix the one problem that dragged on Milan's season last year, above all from January onwards: a front line that could not score with any regularity. Ruben Amorim now gets to hand his compatriot the shirt Milan's campaign will lean on.
Ramos will lead the line, with Rafael Leão and Christopher Nkunku behind him, the same trio that played the half-hour together against Inter. Amorim can start piecing together the attack he has wanted, with Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot the two absentees among the French contingent.
Gazzetta reports that Ramos has been finding the net consistently in training, and the coach will want that to carry into matches quickly given how heavily Milan intend to rely on him. He also inherits the No.9, a shirt that has not sat comfortably on many shoulders in recent years. Olivier Giroud is the last man to wear it well.
The striker himself is keeping the expectations light for now. "How many goals do I want to score this season? I don't like to talk numbers. I just want to play, have fun, and try to help the team. And show my best for AC Milan," he told Gazzetta at the presentation of the club's third shirt yesterday.
Pippo Inzaghi offered his own endorsement at the same event. "I like him because he's a number 9 who moves well and has goals in his blood. Let's hope this year the striker is the right one and that the number 9 shirt brings him luck," said the former Milan forward.
Coming from a man who knows the demands of the position, the backing carries weight, but Ramos knows friendlies are not where the shirt gets earned. From this afternoon, the case for Milan's record buy starts being built on the pitch.