Gonzalo Higuain has travelled to Saudi Arabia to take part in the Supercoppa Italiana despite admitting his desire to leave Milan this month.
Higuain, the Argentina forward, has been linked with a January move to Chelsea, where he will link up with his former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri.
On Saturday evening Gennaro Gattuso, the Milan head coach, revealed Higuain has made up his mind on departing the San Siro before the transfer window shuts on the final day of the month.
“When a player makes up his mind it becomes hard to convince them otherwise,” Gattuso said.
“I have a relationship with him that features great honesty, we say things to one another’s face.
“At the moment, he’s our player and we’re holding on tightly to him. I don’t know what will happen.”
Gattuso was speaking in the wake of Milan’s 2-0 defeat of Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia, a match Higuain started and played the full 90 minutes of regulation time before being substituted in extra time.
Given Higuain’s comments, it was expected he would be dropped from Gattuso’s squad until his departure could be agreed upon.
That is not the case, however.
The 31-year-old former Real Madrid striker has been included in Milan’s squad that has travelled to Saudi Arabia for this season’s Supercoppa Italiana, which pits the Rossoneri against perennial champions Juventus – the team Higuain is on loan to Milan from.
The fixture is due to be played at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on Wednesday, before Milan return to domestic action next weekend with a trip to Genoa in Serie A.
