Fikayo Tomori reflected on Paolo Maldini’s Milan departure, highlighting how ‘there’s no other person like him’ at the club.
Rossoneri owner Gerry Cardinale decided to dismiss the technical director at the start of last month alongside sporting director Frederic Massara, signalling a change in transfer market policy.
Milan have since sold Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United and signed Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic from Chelsea.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia via Di Marzio, Tomori first looked ahead to the coming 2023-24 season.
“We are happy and excited. This is my third season and my position on the pitch requires me to be a leader, to be someone who speaks a lot on and off the pitch.
“I am almost a veteran, having arrived three and a half years ago. I feel the responsibility, like everyone else though, because we want to win.”
He reflected on where things went wrong for Milan last season and what can be different in the upcoming campaign.
“Last year we had the month of January that destroyed the season, except in the Champions League. Hopefully this year we will be better, we want to win but we know it will be more difficult.
“We are trying different things with the coach, we are proud to be Milan players and we want to prove it on the pitch. I hope it will be a season to remember.”
Finally, Tomori reflected on his relationship with Maldini and the club’s decision to sack him last month.
“When you think Milan, you think Maldini. When I arrived, I saw him every day at Milanello, and he gave me advice on how to be stronger.
“There’s no other person like him, but the club has decided to change and we as players are focused on the pitch. We don’t have Maldini as a talisman but I’m sure he’s following us from a distance.”
Tomori was one of many players brought to Milan by Maldini and he’s grown into a key figure at the club, making 107 appearances across all competitions since his initial arrival in January 2021.