Why Milan cannot call on teenage defender Simic in Champions League 

In order to cover an injury crisis at centre-back, Milan coach Stefano Pioli has promoted 18-year-old defender Jan-Carlo Simic from the Primavera squad, but the teeanger is not currently eligible to represent the Rossoneri in the Champions League.

Following injuries to Pierre Kalulu and Marco Pellegrino, Fikayo Tomori, Malick Thiaw and the often injury-prone Simon Kjaer are the only central defenders currently available to Pioli.

Simic, highly rated at Milanello, has been called in to bolster defensive options in the senior squad, but even if he were trusted to, he would not be permitted to play in the Champions League.

At the beginning of each European campaign, teams are required to submit a 25-man squad of senior players to take part in UEFA competitions. In addition, teams are also allowed to name an unlimited number of players on their B list, reserved for homegrown youngsters.

In order to be eligible for the B list in 2023-24, a player must have been born on or after January 1 2002. They also must have been eligible to play for their current club for an uninterrupted period of at least two years after their 15th birthday.

At 18 years of age, Simic ticks the first box, however, he was brought into the Milan set-up from VfB Stuttgart only last year, meaning he has not represented the Rossoneri for the mandatory two-year period and is therefore not eligible to play in the Champions League this campaign.

Theoretically, Simic could be included in Milan’s A list, however, amendments to the squad can only be made at the end of the group stage, and would also require dropping a senior member of the team.