Rating AC Milan's players in the 2012/13 season

After Milan’s third-place finish in the Serie A this year, here is a comprehensive review of each player’s season.

Marco Amelia – 6.5
A great second choice goalkeeper for Milan however he has got nothing on Christian Abbiati. Milan don’t need to fear throwing him in the goals occasionally because he performs solidly.

Mattia De Sciglio – 8.0
A stunning season from the young fullback. Possibly one of the best young fullbacks in the world at the moment he has shown great ability on the left and right making him the most played defender on the team. He was also capped twice for Italy.

Sulley Muntari – 7.0
Not always the best player on the pitch but certainly a hard worker. He scored a crucial goal against Barcelona and played in Milan’s midfield solidly despite being injured for the first half of the season.

Philippe Mexes – 8.0
A warrior for Milan in the back, he defended well, stepping up after the departure of Thiago Silva and Nesta. Scored one of the goals of the season with his overhead bicycle kick and the Champions League qualifying goal against Siena.

Robinho – 6.5
Despite a generous amount of playing time, Robinho only secured two goals all season. He put in some solid appearances and even secured six assists but he was really a waste of space when he was on the field, his pace and skills not enough for him anymore.

Antonio Nocerino – 6.5
If Milan fans were expecting a season reminiscent of last from the Italian midfielder, they were bitterly disappointed. His hattricks and goals a thing of the past, he lacked the ability this year to control the ball. His presence as a high stamina player helped the team but a disappointing season may see him sold.

Alexandre Pato – 7.0
7.0? But he was sold? He didn’t make any appearances practically. Yes. But a closer inspection will show that he scored two goals in only 343 minutes of playing time, one of the best minutes per goal ratios in the team. But his injury streak was costing the team dearly and it was time he left.

Kevin-Prince Boateng – 7.5
In the midfield, on the right wing, wherever he was played, Boateng played admirably. He did lack a little something in his performances though and like Nocerino, his big goal scoring days are over.

Giampaolo Pazzini – 8.5
What a season from Pazzini. Many people would have questioned the transfer of Cassano to Inter but while Pazzini scored 16 goals, Cassano only managed nine. Pazzini stepped up and for the first half of the season was first choice striker. Milan’s second highest goal scorer, he had a great season.

Bakaye Traore – 6.0
A free transfer, he didn’t disappoint too much when he played which was extremely surprising. He only played 151 minutes the entire season and a transfer could be well on the cards.

Francesco Acerbi – 5.5
What a disappointment Acerbi was. Touted as a great up and coming defender, he lacked pace and didn’t exactly make up for it with anything else. Well sold Milan. He had a great chance to improve his game but failed to do so.

Rodney Strasser – 5.5
Another disappointment. Brought back to Milan to be given a chance, he only playd 76 minutes and will most likely be sold on or loaned out, especially with the likes of Bryan Cristante stepping up to the senior team next season.

Bartosz Salamon – 0
No appearances for Milan. But he played well for the Primavera and even got his debut for Poland while he was at Milan. Hopefully he remains with Milan and is given some solid game time next season.

Djamel Mesbah – 4.5
Why was this man bought by Milan? He failed to perform in every single game he played for them. He has moved on now to Parma and has even struggled for appearances there.

Mathieu Flamini – 8.0
While Nocerino stepped down, Flamini stepped up, scoring goals, running well and playing very well in the midfield. Milan will want to hold onto him for a bit longer and he should sign a contract extension in the coming weeks.

Cristian Zapata – 8.0
He and Mexes formed the defensive partnership Milan needed. Thiago Silva and Nesta left a big hole and for the first few weeks the experimentation of combinations halted any sort of solid partnership. But Zapata played well, signing on permanently to Milan.

Riccardo Montolivo – 9.0
Has Milan found their Pirlo? Almost completely faultless in every game, he managed four goals and four assists. He dominated the midfield and whether he was playing in the centre or on the right, he played admirably. And Milan got him for free!

M’Baye Niang – 7.5
People may remember him for his miss against Barcelona but for a kid who celebrated his 18th birthday only a month or two before, he played admirably. He has gotten many great chances and despite scoring only one goal, he shows great promise and timing.

Ignazio Abate – 7.5
While his defending in some games has come into question, he hassles well and provides a great attacking outlet, especially against teams that tend to employ a narrow formation. Still too valuable to Milan to get rid of.

Kevin Constant – 8.0
Milan started the season with this strange transfer which had even the most optimistic of pundits scratching their heads. He has established himself as the teams first choice left back despite his midfield experience, playing against teams like Juventus and Barcelona, marking players such as Pedro and David Villa.

Bojan – 6.5
A disappointing season from Bojan, who was really thrown a chance by the Italian giants and failed to capitalise on it. While he is a solid back up to the starting eleven, he is not worth the €15 million Barcelona want from Milan.

Massimo Ambrosini – 7.5
Ambrosini has reinvigorated his career thanks to the absence of De Jong. He is Milan’s fourth most played midfielder, an improvement on last season where he was competing with the likes of Aquilani, Seedorf and Van Bommel. It has been a great season that could see him transferred away from the club he has been at since 1995.

Daniele Bonera – 5.0
Bonera, in my opinion, hasn’t played a game of football in two seasons that has shown he is capable of playing in Serie A, let alone Milan. His recent contract extension would be a way of guaranteeing a better price, rather than an actual attempt to keep him playing for Milan.

Urby Emanuelson – 6.5
His pre-season was fantastic and his earlier games showed promise too. However his position and regular team action was questioned and he took a loan to Fulham. With Nocerino likely to be sold, Emanuelson should make a return to Milan.

Christian Abbiati – 9.0
Anyone keeping track of an AC Milan game this season via Twitter, would have been bombarded with ‘GREAT SAVE BY ABBIATI!” It has been a stellar season for Abbiati, making countless saves that showcase athleticism of players half his age. His one year contract extension was well deserved.

Nigel De Jong – 7.5
The most upsetting thing I heard all year was that De Jong had been injured. He had been playing so well, playing regularly and playing well. The former Manchester City player was a great buy and he proved his ability, reinvigorating his career.

Didac Vila – 0
Tried to get rid of him at the start of the season only for a medical to block the move. No appearances, no nothing. He WILL be sold.

Andrea Petagna – 5.0
Proved himself in the Primavera and got a three minute call up to the first team in the UEFA Champions league. He will make his way into the first team next year, playing back up to Balotelli with Pazzini injured.

Mario Balotelli – 9.5
With only one premier league goal to his name prior to his transfer, Balotelli was not expected to start well. How wrong that thought was. He managed to rack up an extremely impressive 12 goals in 13 appearances and saved Milan on many occasions. He has also kept his off field antics to a low as well.

Mario Yepes – 6.5
A solid back up to the starting players he did by no means perform poorly. However his age often shows and he is unlikely to pull on the Milan jersey next season. The image of him still in my mind is his brilliant play to set up Milan’s goal against Schalke in the pre-season friendly.

Luca Antonini – 5.0
Antonini may have seen the last of Milan after he managed only 9 appearances all season. Behind De Sciglio and Constant, there is little chance of him seeing game time. A disappointment in most of the games he played this season.

Cristian Zaccardo – 4.5
Saw 45 minutes of game time. A strange purchase by Milan to say the least he could even be on the out after only six months.

Stephan El Shaarawy – 9.5
If anyone has been the highlight of Milan’s campaign this season, it’s the Italian Pharaoh. He has been fantastic in almost every single game and despite a huge role change after the introduction of the Balotelli, he has made an appearance in every game but two. Watch him next season because he’s only twenty and will surely explode from here.

Overall, Milan’s season has been well fought. If you don’t agree with any of these ratings or other issue, leave a comment below or talk to me on Twitter @william_mcinnes.