Dragons Losing Patience: Porto Ready to End Gimenez Pursuit After Milan Snub €15m Bid

FC Porto appear ready to pull the plug on their pursuit of Santiago Gimenez after AC Milan flatly rejected a €15 million offer for the Mexican international, according to reports carried by Football Italia. The Portuguese giants had earmarked Gimenez as a priority target to sharpen their attack, but Milan's refusal to entertain the bid has prompted a swift change of strategy at the Estádio do Dragão. Reports in Portugal suggest Porto have already begun scouting alternative options up front — a telling sign that negotiations could collapse before they ever gained real momentum. Milan's firm stance is understandable. The Rossoneri invested heavily to bring Gimenez to Serie A and have no intention of cutting their losses on a striker they still believe can deliver at the highest level. From their perspective, €15 million falls well short of a valuation for a player of his pedigree and potential resale value, and the club are under no financial pressure to sell at a discount. For Gimenez himself, the uncertainty couldn't come at a more delicate moment. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 on the horizon — a tournament Mexico will co-host — the striker's club situation takes on added significance. Mexico's talisman will be desperate for regular minutes and rhythm heading into a once-in-a-generation summer on home soil, and a move that promises consistent playing time could be tempting. A season of squad rotation at San Siro, by contrast, would do his World Cup ambitions few favours. Porto, meanwhile, refuse to be held hostage by a single target. The club's recruitment team is famously pragmatic, and their willingness to look elsewhere so early in negotiations signals that they will not be drawn into a bidding war. Portuguese sides have become adept at finding value in the market, and there is confidence at the club that a comparable — if less heralded — option can be secured on their terms. Whether Milan's hardline approach softens in the coming weeks remains to be seen. A improved offer could yet revive talks, but as things stand, the message from Portugal is clear: Porto are ready to walk away, and they have a plan B warming up. For now, Gimenez remains a Milan player. But with Porto circling the exits and the World Cup clock ticking, this saga may be dormant rather than dead.