Franck Kessie confirms he is leaving Milan as a free agent and doing it with the Scudetto is ‘the best way to say goodbye’ ahead of his Barcelona move.
The midfielder could not agree on personal terms for a new deal at San Siro and is widely reported to be joining Barcelona as a free agent when his contract expires on June 30.
“These have been five very important years where I really committed to the project,” Kessie told Canal+ Sport Africa.
“I am very happy for the city, the club, my fans, the coach, for me and my whole family. It is the last month of my contract here, but in these five years we were able to get back into the Champions League and win the Scudetto.
“I did what I was brought in for and I think this is the best way to say goodbye.”
The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international spent his entire career in Italy, arriving from Stella Club in January 2015 to join the Atalanta youth academy.
He impressed there and during a loan spell at Cesena before moving to Milan for €32m in 2017.
This season he scored six Serie A goals in 31 games, contributing to the club’s first Scudetto success since the 2010-11 campaign.
That includes the final goal of their season in the 3-0 victory away to Sassuolo, which secured the title at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia.
Kessie: “E’ il mio ultimo mese di contratto. Sono stati cinque anni molto importanti: felice per la città” https://t.co/10SforaPLg
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) May 25, 2022
Grazie, Frank, and good luck with your future career.
Forza Milan!
It is a shame we only got to see the best of him in only 1.5 seasons of his stay, but they also have been the most important period. Ultimately players go where they’re paid the most so fair enough. He stayed professional and dedicated right to the end. I’ll never forget him tussling and fighting off 3-4 Atalanta players at the corner flag when 2-0 up last season. Iconic.
Bye, Frank. You said goodbye with full professionalism and dignity, unlike the pathetic Donnaruma and Calhanoglu. I wish you good luck in your career and happiness in all endeavors.
I’ve had mixed feeling about El Presidente this season but he has always been a professional with the MIlan shirt on and has put in some great performances over the last few years. He was very unlukcy with his disallowed goal against united a couple years back we could of gone further in that competition
And I hope that we really hire a suitable replacement, because he will be missed, he is a strong, intelligent and very versatile player. I hope Pobega or Sanches can fill his shoes, as Adli is a very different type of player.
He gave us a lot. Seemed distracted and a bit uncommitted in the middle of the season, but then, when it really counted he performed.
Grazie Frank! You have my full respect on how the finale goes for your farewell.
And you choose an entire competitive league and great team as well.
I can only wish you good luck.
Barcelona are going to regret signing so many free agents on mammoth wages. That rarely ends well.