Former AC Milan defenderAlessandro Costacurta believes the club are wrong to build their future around striker Carlos Bacca.
The Colombian joined Milan in 2015 after a successful stint at Sevilla and has scored 29 goals in 61 Seria A appearances during his stay at the San Siro. Bacca is perhaps the club's most important attacking outlet, but Costacurta believes the striker can go missing in big games.
"Bacca's a good forward, but if [Cagliari's Marco] Borriello had scored four penalties, he would now have 16 goals,"Costacurta told Sky Sport Italiaas quoted byIl Milanista.
"We're talking about an average forward who, in some games, is completely invisible and in others is fortunate enough to do what he did on Saturday."
At 30-years-old, Bacca is no longer seen as a player for the future by Costacurta, who believes the club needs a youngster to lead the line for future seasons.
"He's not an attacker for the present and even less so one for the future."
Despite Costacurta's assertions, Bacca has enjoyed a decent season, scoring 11 goals in 23 Serie A appearances. He has no immediate youngsters challenging him for a first-team spot in Milan's team, with his closest competitor being 27-year-old Gianluca Lapadula, who has scored five league goals in 17 appearances.
The club boasts the young attacking talent of forwards Gerard Deulofeu, Suso and Lucas Ocampos, all of whom play in wide positions. Manuel Locatelli has also featured prominently in midfield while Gianluigi Donnarumma is seen as one of the most exciting goalkeeping prospects in world football.