DBasia.news – AC Milan’s new midfielder, Sandro Tonali, explains the reasons why he prefers to join Il Rossoneri rather than city rivals, Inter Milan. Tonali admitted that he didn’t think much when Milan’s offer came.
Allegedly Tonali joined Milan due to Antonio Conte, the Inter coach preferred an experienced midfielder to Tonali. However, the reason is not only that. Tonali confirmed an offer from Inter beforehand, but when an offer from Milan came he immediately asked his agent to move there.
“More or less everyone supports the Milan where I come from, including my father, who passed on that passion to me as a child,” Tonalid said in a press conference with Milan as quoted by Football Italy.
“I’ve wanted to wear this jersey for a long time. I didn’t have much to say to (Brescia President Massimo) Cellino, but he immediately realized what that meant for me. He said he would let me make my choice and he kept his promise.”
“I asked him to make this effort for me and he was great. When I realized there was an opportunity to join Milan, I closed all other doors. I had to go to Milan. I had to.”
“My agent does most of the negotiations with Inter, so I wouldn’t be bothered. As soon as I heard about Milan, and he knew I was supporting them, we talked and I let him get to work,” he explained.
Tonali used the number 8 jersey worn by Milan legend, Gennaro Gattuso. Gattuso, who now coaches Napoli, is also an idol for Tonali and he has asked his permission to use the jersey number.
“Gattuso is my idol and still is today. Nobody wears the number 8, so I chose him, because it has various meanings in my life. Working with (Paolo) Maldini is also quite surprising,” added Tonali.
“I was at the San Siro for (watching) Milan-Chievo (in the past), with Clarence Seedorf’s goal heading into the top corner in the dying minutes. It was a really bad game, but that’s what I hope to play, because I was there, “he explained.