Davide Bartesaghi’s phenomenal season continues, and he has expressed gratitude towards several key figures at AC Milan.
It has already been a very memorable campaign for Bartesaghi, who seized the opportunity and earned a starting spot at his boyhood club Milan. He scored his first goals in Serie A as well, netting a brace versus Sassuolo, and he is also shining for his country too.
Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!
Italy U21s scored four goals against North Macedonia and four goals against Sweden. In both matches, the Azzurrini were too powerful on the left, and Bartesaghi racked up three assists over the two games, including a very impressive one in the first.
Bartesaghi on Allegri, rise to starting role and more
Tomorrow night he’ll be starting at Napoli’s Stadio Maradona. It will be his 25th appearance in the league this season, his 42nd for the Rossoneri. For a 20-year-old, those are not insignificant numbers. He spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport to give some insight into his rise.
Have you gained further momentum with Italy U21s for the final part of the season?
“At Milan, I’ve had more than I thought I could ask for so far. I’m happy and lucky: I have the trust of the coach, the staff, and my team-mates.”
What is the main lesson you’ve learned in this first season as a Rossoneri revelation?
“I owe everything to Allegri and his team. They gave me confidence and helped me adapt to multiple roles. I like playing where I’m used today, as a wing-back, a role I put a lot of work into. In the future, I also see myself in a three-man defence: I’ve learned that versatility is an added value.”
Along with the other defenders, you are one of the key players in the team’s newfound solidity. What does Max ask of you?
“A lot of work. Last season’s defensive performance obviously wasn’t good, and the coach asked us to fix it immediately, first and foremost. He made simple requests, as football ultimately is: don’t concede goals and just do it, as he often says.
“If you work consistently every day, you follow what the coach asks of you, always adding one brick upon another.”
You said you got more than you imagined. What did you expect?
“To improve day by day. I met a top coach and person, Allegri always told me to stay calm. The staff supports me, and there’s also greater confidence with them. I knew I had an opportunity to seize, that my moment could come.”
First there was competition from Estupinan to overcome…
“A good player. I congratulated him after his great goal in the derby. We’re team-mates, not opponents. The healthier a group is, the further it can go. Ours is, there’s great positive energy.”
Who are the companions who act as your safest guides?
“Gabbia first. I spend a lot of time with him, we do a lot of things together. Maignan, who is our leader, is also on the pitch. Rabiot talks to me a lot. Modric is with actions more than his words…”
Luka may not be a big talker, but his mere presence is an example. Speaking of which: did you expect to find yourself in a team with Modric after only a year ago playing in Serie C with Milan Futuro?
“It’s been a very important journey. After playing in the Primavera, many young players risk being lost. Without the U23 team, I might have had to change clubs and cities. I might not have fit in either, having to change again and again.
“The environment elsewhere is different, that’s inevitable. With Milan Futuro, it was tough at the beginning, but then it turned out to be a crucial step. The club’s plan is to develop young players, and you can do that there.
“It’s not Serie A, but it’s not the Primavera. You play in heated environments, against experienced players, and the pressure increases.”
Yet the results for Milan Futuro have not been exactly brilliant…
“True, it was a difficult year in terms of results, but it was a valuable year for my work and growth, both as a professional and as a person. Without that experience, I probably wouldn’t be the player and the guy I am today. If I had left, I wouldn’t be who I am now.”
So, from a young player’s perspective: second teams are useful for developing talent from the youth sector. Perhaps it’s also one of the many solutions for Italy’s resurgence?
“As far as I’m concerned, absolutely yes. The club has made a huge investment, almost all of us Milan players have been through it, and in the future we could find ourselves here, together, among the greats.”
You couldn’t even have expected to be here, at the beginning of April, preparing for a high-stakes match against Napoli. It could be the certainty of second place and the title of anti-Inter. Ready?
“It’s one of our most important matches, crucial for the end of the season. We’ll prepare for it with all the emphasis it deserves. There will be excitement, but also great awareness: we’re a strong team and any opponent is within our reach.”
