AC Milan secured the signing of Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez from Feyenoord in a deal worth $36.2 million, including add-ons and a sell-on clause towards the end of the January window to bolster their attacking unit.
The 23-year-old forward, who has signed a contract until 2029, will wear the number 7 shirt—previously donned by club legends like Alexandre Pato, and Robinho.
Gimenez arrives in Milan after an impressive stint in the Eredivisie, where he netted 65 goals in 105 appearances for Feyenoord. His recent form has been electric, scoring six goals in five matches in January alone. With AC Milan still competing in the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League, the Mexican international will be expected to hit the ground running.
And he has wasted no time. In his first appearance for the Rossoneri, Gimenez made an instant impact against Empoli in the Serie A, thanks to help from a North American comrade in Pulisic.
Christian Pulisic, one of Milan’s standout performers this season, set up Gimenez’s debut goal with a clever poke past the defender, allowing the Mexican striker to cut onto his left foot and curl a perfect shot into the top corner.
The goal, outstanding in itself, wasn’t the talking point for social media after the game. Instead, it was an Instagram post by Pulisic, and Gimenez’s comment that made fans believe that the two were trying to bridge a geopolitical gap.
The post was a series of images, with the first one being Gimenez and Pulisic with their arm around each other’s shoulders, under which Gimenez left a comment: a handshake emoji between the U.S. and Mexican flags, fueling the narrative of unity.
Gimenez, a Mexican international, being assisted by Pulisic, an American international, isn’t something you’d see happen outside of the football pitch amidst rising tensions.
The geopolitical relationship between the United States and Mexico has almost always been complex. Historically, disputes over borders, migration, and trade have occasionally strained relations. In recent years, issues such as immigration policies, trade disagreements, and security concerns have further complicated the bilateral dynamic.
Fans took to social media to joke that Pulisic and Gimenez were on a mission to mend U.S.-Mexico relations.
“They’re solving the border crisis,” and “oh they know what they’re doing ajfjsjdj” were a couple of reactions on X. While another fan credited the club, “Milan single handedly fixing the mexican-american relationship.”
One user joked about Trump’s trade policies, “Let’s see trump try to put tariffs on this partnership.”
Being completely real, while the duo isn’t going to solve any tensions between the two nations, Pulisic and Gimenez did for a brief moment offer a reminder of the sport’s ability to bring people together.
