Alessandro Florenzi confirms he had offers from abroad, but Milan ‘wanted me more than anyone’ and he was completely won over by Paolo Maldini.
He completed the transfer today, on loan from Roma for €1m with an option to buy at the end of the season for a further €4m.
“I was above all pushed by the desire Milan had to sign me. They wanted me more than anyone, including the teams from abroad, so I wanted to go into this with great hunger and determination. I can’t wait to get on the pitch,” Florenzi told Milan TV.
Negotiations also went smoothly thanks to directors Frederic Massara, formerly of Roma, and Maldini.
“I’ve known Frederic for a while and his insistence, along with that of Maldini, was certainly a bonus. They wanted me and that’s what I was looking for.
“Today, for the first time, I tasted truly what Paolo Maldini is all about. He’s a legend of this club and has an aura similar to Francesco Totti or Daniele De Rossi at Roma. Men like that are untouchable, not just for what they gave to their clubs, but also to all of Italian football.”
Florenzi brings with him valuable experience, especially after being part of Italy’s squad at UEFA EURO 2020.
“That is an indelible memory and teammates I will be bonded with for the rest of my life. I do consider myself to be an experienced figure, even if I am only 30 years old, and I want to bring that to this club. With Simon Kjaer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud, we can share that experience with the talented younger players. I feel mature on a football level.”
Florenzi has chosen the Number 25 jersey at Milan because it “reminds me of a happy experience.”
🗣️ Florenzi: “AC Milan wanted me more than anyone else”
Alessandro talks about his move to the Rossoneri 🔴⚫🗣️ Florenzi: “Il Milan mi ha voluto più di tutti”
Le motivazioni di @Florenzi 🔴⚫ #NewPlayerUnlocked #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/hJr9SN64UD— AC Milan (@acmilan) August 21, 2021