Amorim calls, Gonçalo Ramos answers
AC Milan's rebuild continues with another arrival from Portugal. After appointing Rúben Amorim as head coach, the Rossoneri have added another key piece to their new project by signing Gonçalo Ramos, who joins after three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2001-born forward becomes the latest chapter in AC Milan's long-standing Portuguese connection. From the club's record-breaking signing of Manuel Rui Costa in 2001 to more recent arrivals such as André Silva and Rafael Leão, as well as coaches Paulo Fonseca, Sérgio Conceição and now Amorim himself, Portuguese football has become an enduring part of the Rossoneri's modern identity.
From the Algarve to Benfica: Portugal's next great talent
Born in the Algarve on 20 June 2001, Gonçalo Matias Ramos took his first steps in football with local side Olhanense before catching Benfica's attention and moving to Lisbon at the age of twelve.
His talent quickly flourished in the Portuguese capital. Ramos first announced himself on the international stage at the 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where he claimed the Golden Boot with four goals. A year later, he finished as the UEFA Youth League's top scorer with eight goals, confirming his status as one of the brightest forwards in European youth football.
He broke into Benfica's senior side in 2021, but the real turning point came the following summer. After Darwin Núñez joined Liverpool and Haris Seferović moved to Galatasaray, head coach Roger Schmidt handed Ramos the keys to Benfica's attack. He did not disappoint.
Coming of age at Benfica and a World Cup hat-trick
The 2022/23 season proved to be the making of Gonçalo Ramos. His 19 goals in 30 league appearances fired Benfica to the Portuguese title and earned him a surprise late call-up to Portugal's squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
That season also brought a string of milestones. He became the youngest player ever to bag a brace in the Lisbon derby against Sporting and, at just 22, matched a feat last achieved by Eusébio in 1962/63, becoming the first Benfica player since the club legend to score 25 goals in a single season.
His reputation grew even further at the World Cup. Named in Portugal's starting line-up at the tournament for the very first time, Ramos scored a memorable hat-trick in a 6-1 victory over Switzerland, becoming the first player since Miroslav Klose in 2002 to score three goals on his first World Cup start.
PSG success and a proven eye for goal
Ramos' performances at Benfica attracted Europe's biggest clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain eventually winning the race for his signature.
Competition for places in Paris was fierce and Luis Enrique gradually moved away from using a traditional centre-forward, often deploying Ousmane Dembélé as a false nine. Despite limited playing time and many appearances from the bench, Ramos maintained an outstanding scoring record, netting eleven goals in his first season, 19 in his second and another twelve in his third. Every one of those goals in his final campaign came after being introduced as a substitute.
He delivered on the biggest European nights, too. Ramos won two UEFA Champions League titles with PSG, scoring five goals in the competition and converting the opening penalty in the shootout victory over Arsenal in the final. He was decisive again in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham, coming off the bench to score a late equaliser before converting his penalty in the shootout. At international level, however, his opportunities have naturally been limited by Cristiano Ronaldo’s continued presence.
Even so, his record already speaks for itself: 96 goals split between Benfica (41), Paris Saint-Germain (45) and Portugal (10), as well as an impressive collection of honours that includes four league titles – three of them in France – two UEFA Champions League triumphs, one FIFA Intercontinental Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Nations League title.
Why AC Milan chose Gonçalo Ramos
His move to Serie A is one of the standout transfers of the summer. Ramos arrives in Milan as he enters the prime years of his development, while still having significant room to grow. Among Under-25 players in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks third for goals per 90 minutes over the past three seasons.
His profile appears tailor-made for Rúben Amorim's football. Ramos is a penalty-box striker who excels at finding space, occupying dangerous positions and making intelligent runs into scoring areas. Comfortable with either foot and strong in the air, he relies on clever movement and sharp timing rather than taking on opponents far from goal. At the same time, his physical presence (185 cm), together with excellent close control, allows him to combine effectively with his teammates – an attribute Amorim particularly values, given the importance he places on effective link-up play and relentless pressing from his centre-forward.
Gonçalo Ramos and the legacy of the number 9 shirt
AC Milan's attacking options look well suited to bringing out the best in him. In a front three, Ramos could benefit from the creativity of Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic. In a system with a lone striker, he would lead the line with support from players such as Christopher Nkunku and Alexis Saelemaekers.
The Rossoneri hope they have found the striker capable of carrying on the legacy of AC Milan's iconic number nine shirt, most recently restored to prominence by Olivier Giroud after the years of Filippo Inzaghi.
For Gonçalo Ramos, this is likely to be the biggest opportunity of his career. After three seasons spent largely making an impact from the bench, he arrives in Milan expected to lead the attack from day one. Armed with the service from his teammates and carrying the expectations of San Siro and a club determined to return to winning ways, much will depend on his ability to deliver in front of goal.