'He’s been not convincing...it's disheartening' - Former USMNT striker Herculez Gomez criticizes Mexico's Santiago Gimenez for mirroring AC Milan's disappointing form

Mexico international Santiago Gimenez was sent off in the 21st minute for elbowing a player during AC Milan’s 3-1 defeat to AS Roma — a loss that confirmed the club will miss out on European football for the 2025-26 season. Despite starting the match, the Mexican forward’s early dismissal drew criticism, with Herculez Gomez saying Gimenez’s performances this season have mirrored Milan’s struggles.

“A rollercoaster is a very good way to describe this emotional off watching Santi Gimenez with Milan in the Serie A,” Gomez said on Futbol Americas. “And it goes kinda hand in hand with what Milan are today. Mine [One word to describe Gimenez’s season] was going to be disheartening. When you hear that Milan, one of the premier brands in world football, is spending 40 million euros on a player like Santi Gimenez, wow!"

Gimenez came to Milan with a ton of expectations, with even Zlatan Ibrahimovic taking the new striker under his wing when he first arrived in January. It was rumored he turned down offers to leave Feyenoord, holding out for a big club.

“This is why he held out, this is why he didn’t go to Forest, this is why he didn’t leave summer after summer while he was bagging goals at Feyenoord," Gomez explained." He was waiting for this, he was waiting for that club, and here he is, a massive brand and Santi Gimenez, and it’s all going to come together now. And then his first game, debuts and assists, then second game he scores, and you’re starting to say, ‘woah, this is storybook.’

Despite a strong start, Gimenez has largely disappointed in his time in Italy - scoring five goals in 14 appearances for the Rossoneri.

“Milan didn’t buy you for the promise, didn’t buy for the tomorrow, they bought you for the today, and in the time he’s been injured, and the time he’s been not convincing, not on the field, other players have gotten into that door and wedged themselves in there. That has made Santi Gimenez doubt creep up, so it’s disheartening for Milan, it’s disheartening for those of us who have seen Santi’s trajectory and thought ‘this was it, it’s all going to come together’ because after this, the Mexican national team will naturally come together.

He added, “This is what was going to happen: he’s going to come to Milan, he’s going to crush it, and he’s going to translate that good form to the Mexican national team that he’s never had. And we’re just waiting for more.”

Gimenez's arrival was supposed to be the final touch in helping the club secure European football for next season. Despite his price tag, he wasn't able to do so. Raising questions about the future of many at AC Milan, especially the manager Sérgio Conceição.

Gimenez will miss Milan's next three Serie A matches due to suspension, which means he will miss the club’s final game of the 2024-25 season. The Rossoneri currently sit in ninth place on the Serie A table, and their loss to AS Roma means they won’t be able to finish higher than seventh place. The club faces AS Monza in their final game of their league season on May 24.