Manuel Locatelli has explained why he left Milan for Sassuolo. “I seemed like the new Messi, then there was the criticism…”
Locatelli appeared destined for a long career with Milan after a breakthrough 2016-17 campaign, but the Italy Under-21 midfielder moved to Sassuolo last summer.
“I scored my first Serie A goal at Sassuolo,” the 21-year-old told Inside Serie A.
“To score a goal at San Siro and crown that comeback was something unique. I was probably destined to come here.
Manuel Locatelli has explained why he left Milan for Sassuolo. “I seemed like the new Messi, then there was the criticism…”
Locatelli appeared destined for a long career with Milan after a breakthrough 2016-17 campaign, but the Italy Under-21 midfielder moved to Sassuolo last summer.
“I scored my first Serie A goal at Sassuolo,” the 21-year-old told Inside Serie A.
“To score a goal at San Siro and crown that comeback was something unique. I was probably destined to come here.
“Incidentally, I chose the No 73 and I scored my first Serie A goal in the 73rd minute: if that isn’t destiny.
“I had some good times at Milan. I seemed like the new Messi: front pages, articles, TV, lots of attention…
“Then there was the criticism, a lot of it when things didn’t go well. It hurt me, I admit I suffered and then I had some bad times.
“Thanks to the help of my family and girlfriend, I managed to overcome them. Sassuolo also believed in me.”
Locatelli is arguably best known for his long-range winner against Juventus in October 2016…
“It changed my life,” he confessed.
“People, when they stop me on the street, still remind me of that goal. When I think of that goal against Juve, in front of 70,000 people, to win 1-0 and score against Buffon, it still gives me goosebumps.”