Jens Petter Hauge is ‘ready to fight for a starting spot’ at Milan but adds: ‘if the club has other intentions, I’ll decide what to do.’

The Norway international moved to Milan from Bodo/Glimt after their meeting in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League.

The 21-year-old only played 18 Serie A games and started three of them in 2020-21. The future of the youngster is uncertain, but he wants to fight for his place at San Siro.

He has been linked with a move to Udinese as Milan are reportedly ready to include him in a player-plus-cash swap deal to sign Rodrigo De Paul.

“First of all, I will recover and prepare for the match with the national team,” he told TV2. “Then I will probably take a short vacation before starting the talks with Milan.

“It’s a dialogue that must at least be set up. I’m ready to go back there and fight for a starting position, but if the club has other intentions, then I’ll decide what to do.

“First of all, I want to be part of a team and contribute, not just in training.”

But the Norwegian doesn’t regret signing with the Rossoneri last summer.

“It has been a very long season, where a lot has happened, and there have been a lot of emotions,” Hauge continued. “Then you have some time to think about how big the step I actually took was, and in the end, I’m incredibly happy with the season and the choice I made.”

Hauge admitted it was a big change for him, as he moved from the Eliteserien to the top division in Italy, playing ‘with some of the greatest footballers in the world’.

“It was a radical change of life for me, both for my everyday life and in the way I train,” he said. “And in playing with some of the greatest footballers in the world.

“Milan are an incredible side, and Milan is a city that thrives on football and where football means almost everything.

“It taught me a lot. Looking at how things have gone this year, I feel I have shown myself to a whole new level and have demonstrated my qualities.”

Hauge scored two important goals in Serie A, as Milan finished second in the table. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, however, scored 15 times in 19 games, and Hauge praised the 39-year-old veteran.

“He’s an incredible player. He sets standards that I didn’t even think were possible,” Hauge continued. “There’s quality in everything he does and helps the rest of the team a lot.”

 

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