Milan midfielder Franck Kessie said he wants to ‘stay forever’ at the Rossoneri but admitted he was ‘sorry’ Gigio Donnarumma and Hakan Calhanoglu left this summer.
The Ivory Coast international participates at the Olympics and spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport during the retreat in Tokyo.
The 24-year-old arrived from Atalanta in July 2017 and has established himself as a key player at Milan. His contract expires next summer, but Kessie has promised to sort out the contractual situation when he returns from Japan.
“I’m proud to have chosen Milan and it’s not my intention to leave,” Kessie said. “Indeed, I want to stay forever.
“Now it’s the Olympics, but when I come back, I will fix everything. There will be no problems, I always keep my word. The club has always known that my will is to stay with the Rossoneri. An important season awaits us.”
Reports in Italy have claimed Kessie’s representatives will meet with Milan in the next few days and the former Atalanta player reiterated he only wants to play for the Diavolo.
Milan finished second in Serie A last term and Kessie is ready to fight for the Champions League in 2021-22.
“I only want Milan. We are a fantastic group; I can’t wait to be able to hug my teammates and the coach again. We will have to live up to the name Milan have in Europe.
“We have to aim for the maximum in every competition, both in the League and in the cups. We will not disappoint.”
After a full season without spectators at San Siro, Kessie looks forward to playing in front of the Rossoneri fans again.
“I like it so much when the ultras sing ‘there’s only one President’. I want to be here for life. At least for the duration of my footballing life.
“I would like to go as far as possible in the Olympics with Ivory Coast, then Milan will have for as long as they want…”
But the new season starts without influential goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu.
“Of course, I’m sorry,” Kessie said. “We shared an important part of our life. And then Gigio is the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
“But I can’t enter the decisions of other people, I’m only in charge of myself. I’m very sorry, but there are some great new players who have arrived at Milan.”