Higuaín: Capello hopes ex-Real Madrid striker stays at AC Milan
Fabio Capello understands why Gonzalo Higuaín may want to link up with Maurizio Sarri again but he is keen to see the AC Milan striker stay.
Fabio Capello still hopes Gonzalo Higuaín can be a success at AC Milan, but he fears the forward will leave San Siro to play for a coach who can get the best out of him.
Higuaín joined Milan from Juventus on a season-long loan ahead of the Serie A campaign but has failed to show his best goalscoring form - netting just eight times in 21 outings in all competitions - and rumours persist of a mid-season switch to Chelsea.
Maurizio Sarri is in charge at Stamford Bridge and, like Capello at Real Madrid, has worked with the Argentina international previously while with Napoli, overseeing his record-breaking 36-goal Serie A campaign in 2015-16.
Capello feels Higuaín "wants to go and play under a coach who knows his qualities"
The former England manager believes Higuaín may push for a departure if he feels Gennaro Gattuso cannot play to his strengths in Milan.
"I got the best out of [Higuaín] at Real Madrid," Capello told Rai Radio. "I think he has been burdened by that penalty miss against Juventus [in November]. I've seen him play too far away from goal.
"I hope that, for Milan's sake, he can overcome his mental block and score lots of goals between now and the end of the season. Higuaín's quality isn't up for discussion.
"I remember when I joined Juventus and [David] Trezeguet wanted to leave. I told him to stay because he was important to me. My feeling, though, is that Higuaín wants to go and play under a coach who knows his qualities and can use them.
"Milan do not have anyone in the box. If Higuaín plays like Higuaín, there are not many players better than him. We must ask him what he wants to do, whether he plans to stay or not."
Higuaín should not leave Milan in January, says Capello
However, Capello does not believe a January move would suit Higuaín or Milan, advising the player to hang on until the end of the season.
"In my opinion, this is not the right time for anyone," Capello told Tuttosport. "These are decisions that are to be made in the summer - not now."