Milos Kerkez froze Lazio with his goal in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the Conference League to lead AZ to a 2-1 victory. The young Hungarian full-back was sold by Milan in 2021 after playing for the Rossoneri for two years.
His goal was a mix of tactical intelligence and positional sense. Lazio has remained completely frozen since its insertion in the penalty area, ending up crashed at the Olimpico by AZ in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Conference League. An authentic mockery for the biancocelesti given that the goal scored it Milos Kerkez, left-back born in 2003 that Lazio had tried to sign in the January market before closing the purchase of Luca Pellegrini in that role.
Kerkez was the author of the goal at the Olimpico with lots of colorful exultation but which has great significance. Perhaps Italy was bitter to say the least for him given that it was Milan who were the first to believe in the young Hungarian. In fact, Kerkez had signed with the Rossoneri after starting to play for theHajduk Kulaup to the youth of Rapid Wien from 2014 to 2019. Then the arrival at Milan with the nickname of “new Bale” which had already made the Rossoneri management dream. Aggregated to the Spring and after also playing in the Youth League, Kerkez was then sold to AZ Alkmaar for 2 million euros. From that moment on, his career took off and now he is one of the staples of the Dutch.
Kerkez’s angry exultation after the goal of the definitive 2–1 against Lazio.
Milan were evidently already sure they had a strong player like Theo Hernandez on their side in that position. Young, strong and absolutely decisive on several occasions, the Frenchman is such a pillar of Milan that he takes away space from anyone in that position. Kerkez didn’t want to be a reserve and indeed Milan then bet on Ballo-Touré as deputy Theo letting go of a player who perhaps needed more consideration instead. Kerkez in his two-year militancy at Milan also learned something from Theo Hernandez. In addition to running and scoring, he evidently also copied the exultation of the Frenchman. Against Lazio, in fact, he mimicked the gesture of Theo’s symbol of the telephone receiver.
Lazio-AZ Alkmaar, where to watch it on TV and streaming on TV8, Sky or DAZN: official formations of the Conference match
Kerkez was able to show the Olimpico great tranquillity, sense of position and excellent ability to take the initiative in the offensive phase. All qualities that evidently they had also noticed in Milan, however preferring to focus on another type of player. The full-back at AZ thus exploded by scoring well 4 goals and 8 assists in 43 appearances for the Dutch since joining January 2022. Absolutely important numbers which have now also earned him the call-up with the Hungary national team which already in the last European Championships 2020/2021 had shown enormous growth in terms of elements added to the squad. Kerkez therefore took a big revenge with Italy who perhaps didn’t believe in him fully, leaving him without too many regrets.
