Ismael Bennacer has revealed that he feels ‘very, very proud’ to continue his career with AC Milan, and has pledged to ‘give even more’ for the club.
It was confirmed by Milan’s official website last night that Bennacer has extended his contract with Milan until 30 June 2027, with the previous deadline having been set for June 2024. It is certainly a very positive sign for the club’s project moving forward as yet another key piece has been happy to extend their stay.
It comes after the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Theo Hernandez, Pierre Kalulu and Sandro Tonali all put pen to paper on extensions during the year of 2022, and is a further safeguarding of the cornerstones moving forward.
Bennacer spoke to Milan TV after penning his new deal at Casa Milan and Algerian midfielder spoke about his time so far at the club and what the future might hold, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
On his renewal: “I’m very, very proud to continue with Milan. I’m part of this family and I want to give even more for the whole club, the club and the fans. I want to show everyone that I really want to.”
On the last four years: “When I arrived, the path we have followed and that we are following is part of my goals today and I hope to do even better both with the team and personally.”
On the group: “We have done a great job and we are still doing it. The strength of a team is a group and the group is everyone: from the warehouse workers to the cooks, everyone. We are very different from three years ago and we hope to do even better.”
On Pioli: “Pioli is a great coach because he is a great person. He knows every player and takes the time to get to know and manage every player. He always wants to improve every day and every training session: even when we win, he always wants to do better. This is also my mentality, we have the same goals. The coach is like that and that’s why he did what he has done up to now.”
On his margins for growth: “First of all, I do what the coach asks of me but I still have a lot to learn and I’m in the ideal place for me to do it.”
On San Siro and the fans: “I remember the first match I played at San Siro against Brescia: every match always gives me something extra and I haven’t gotten used to the atmosphere yet because the fans seem to do more every match. We have to do everything for them because they are very, very important to us. I am very happy because I feel there is something between me and them and that is very important for a player.”
On the team: “We have a young group: I feel ‘old’ and I’m 25. It means that we have a lot to learn and do. We have to be united from the younger players to the older ones.”
A message to the fans: “I want to thank all the fans. Today I am very happy to continue this story together and I hope we will write more pages. Forza Milan!”
