On the feeling the victory against Atalanta: “I’ll tell you the truth, yesterday when Theo scored I got emotional. We’re very close to winning, it would really be a piece of history for a team like Milan, it’s a unique thing. I was focused and I went in quite calmly but with a lot of desire. When we arrived at the stadium, the fans gave us a great boost.”
On the strongest player he has played with and against: “The strongest player I have played with is Zlatan, the strongest against was Cristiano Ronaldo. He [Zlatan] once kicked me in the face. Yesterday he was charged up. The first time I saw him we were eating together and he said ‘You don’t speak?’ and then he said ‘Bravo, bravo because you just work’. The desire he has at 40 is impressive. With those who work and commit themselves he is very good, he always tries to help.”
His arrival in Italy: “When I arrived in Italy I started a delivery job and the company had a team: we did CSI and UISP tournaments. It was nice, at the weekend, after work, to go and have fun with friends. I used to run and score goals.”
His amateur career: “I never thought too far ahead: I always looked category by category. Then when I made the jump from D to B, I realised I could do it. In Eccellenza and D there are bad pitches and there is no Var, they can beat you easily.”
The call from AC Milan: “A dream come true: Milan is among the greatest teams in the world. A unique emotion after the path I’ve been on. It wasn’t an easy negotiation but when my agent told me there was this opportunity, I was surprised.”
The most active players in the dressing room: “For me it’s the Spanish guys who make a bit of a mess: [Samu] Castillejo, Theo [Hernandez] and Brahim [Diaz]. If I say that the coach puts on the worst music, he doesn’t let me play anymore: he listens to Italian music that is a bit romantic. [Alessandro] Florenzi is even worse but he puts the music on when everyone leaves.”
His goal against Atletico Madrid: “It was a difficult moment, I was coming back from injury. It was a really big emotion and a relief.”