AC Milan Star Gonçalo Ramos Given Brutal Verdict by Hernán Crespo After Slow Start

Ramos arrived from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer in a deal reported to be worth up to €74 million, immediately placing enormous expectations on the Portugal international.

The goals, however, have not arrived at the same rate.

After his opening five Serie A appearances, Ramos had scored just once, leaving Milan supporters waiting for the prolific centre-forward they expected to see after such a major investment.

Crespo has refused to write him off.

But the former Argentina striker has also made it clear that he does not regard Ramos as an elite goalscorer.

Crespo's view on Ramos

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Crespo pointed towards Ramos' record at PSG as evidence that expectations need to be realistic.

Ramos scored 53 goals in 131 appearances across his final three seasons in Paris, according to Crespo.

For a player who has arrived at Milan with such a significant price tag, those numbers do not necessarily suggest the kind of relentless goalscorer supporters might expect.

Crespo's assessment was therefore straightforward: Ramos is a good player and an excellent centre-forward, but he should not automatically be placed among the game's elite.

That distinction is important.

Milan did not simply sign a young prospect hoping he might eventually develop into a leading striker. The size of the transfer means Ramos has arrived with the expectation that he can immediately become a major source of goals.

So far, that has not happened consistently.

There is more to Ramos than goals

Crespo was equally keen to point out that judging Ramos purely on his goal tally would overlook some of his most valuable qualities.

The striker is prepared to work tirelessly without the ball, drop towards midfield and create space for teammates to attack.

He also presses aggressively and spends long periods battling with opposing defenders.

Those qualities can be difficult to capture in a basic goals-and-assists assessment, particularly when a striker is being asked to contribute to the team's wider attacking structure.

For Crespo, that work cannot simply be dismissed because Ramos is not finding the net often enough.

The problem is that Milan paid a premium for a forward whose primary responsibility remains putting the ball in the goal.

And that is where the pressure begins.

The price tag changes everything

Ramos' performances would inevitably be viewed differently if Milan had signed him for a modest fee.

Instead, the reported €74m package has made every missed opportunity and every quiet attacking display more noticeable.

Crespo acknowledged that himself.

His point was not that Ramos is a poor signing or that Milan should abandon patience with him. Rather, the transfer fee has created a level of expectation that the striker now has to live with.

Ramos himself has previously embraced that responsibility.

After joining Milan, he spoke about wanting to make history at the club and said that a successful season would mean winning the league title.

That is the standard he has set for himself.

Milan need more from their No.9

There is still plenty of time for Ramos to change the conversation.

One goal from his opening five Serie A matches does not define an entire season, particularly for a new signing adapting to a different league, teammates and tactical environment.

But Milan will need their biggest attacking investment to become more decisive.

The encouraging part is that Ramos is already contributing through his movement, pressing and willingness to work for the team.

The next step is turning that effort into goals.

That is ultimately what Crespo's assessment comes down to.

He has not written Ramos off. Far from it.

But he has also warned Milan supporters against judging the Portuguese striker as something he has not consistently been throughout his career.

For Ramos, the answer is simple: keep doing the hard work, but start putting the ball in the net.

At Milan, the price tag means there will be little escape from that expectation.