Giacomo Bonaventura left AC Milan at the end of the 2019-20 season after spending six years at the club. He joined Fiorentina on a free transfer and has done well since, with his motivation being a key factor.
The 34-year-old has started the season really well with four goals and two assists in eight league appearances. Most recently, he scored the goal that put Fiorentina 2-1 ahead against Napoli, a clash they won 3-1.
As a result, Luciano Spalletti decided to call him up to the Italian national team. Speaking at the press conference earlier today, as cited by SempreMilan.it, Bonaventura explained that he left Milan with great motivation.
“I left Milan with great motivation, I knew that the new experience would be nice because I still had a great desire to do well and demonstrate my value. Then came Fiorentina, who have grown a lot in recent years, and it proved to be the ideal place for me to continue my career,” he stated.
It’s no secret that Bonaventura wanted to stay with the Rossoneri but he was never offered a contract renewal, forced to finish his spell with the club in front of an empty San Siro (due to Covid-19). An unworthy ending for such an important player.
He was probably the only world class player we had in those years and a great servant to the club.
We should never have let him go. And we kept Hakan the snake
Maldini’s Heir, waiting for your post (I would agree in this case).
Sorry for the late reply!
I’d say Bonaventura captures exactly the point I keep making and sums up the problems we’ve had at Milan which include:
a) Injuries – Bonaventura is one of many players (including El Shaaraway) who inexplicably suffered more injuries in their short time at Milan compared to any other club;
b) Multiple signings per position – in Bonaventura’s time at Milan we continued to sign players with almost the exact same characteristics in the exact position most notably Hakan and Paqueta. These players crowded each other and none of them reached anywhere near the potential whilst at Milan including Bonaventura. Which takes me to me main point.
c) Turnover – my number 1 bug bear. In the case of Bonaventura since he joined the club in 2014 we have signed multiple players in his position none of whom are still at the club. Off the top of my head and solely looking at the AM position we’ve gone through Honda, Saponara, Hakan, Paqueta, CDK, and Brahim – and I am sure many others. In fact it’s almost impossible to keep track. All of those signings have proven to be a complete waste of time and money, and in that period we could’ve just had Bonaventura + 1 Other. And Bonaventura would be coming to his 10th season now. But instead we’ve had chaos. And that chaos doesn’t seem to be subsiding under the new Money Ball Managers who think the transfer market is some sort of game.
No matter how much I appreciate him as a player and for his time with Milan, I can’t help but wonder why he was selected by Spalletti for the national team. I understand his season is off to a great start and there aren’t a ton of good Italian talents anymore but after missing consecutive World Cups, you need to rebuild the program by focusing on youth or younger players. This seems like a rash selection to benefit the short-term which is what put Italy in this mess of a situation in the past. Sure, leadership and experience are important but the squad already has that in some of the other selections (Acerbi as an example). I am very disappointed by this Italian squad under Spalletti thus far.
Jack is wc.. no going around that. If he is better than most of Italian youths atm, he is just fúvking better.
Spaleti needs results right now, not in 3,4 years
That image of him with an empty San Siro will always hunt me.
* haunt, obv.
A player who always plays with heart. Grazie Jack!
A player who always plays with heart. Grazie Jack!
Should have been a Milan legend. And would have been too if the idiots in charge didn’t think he was “too old”.
Pains me how we let this guy go. They pulled the same sh*t with Pirlo of course.
What was it… 5 years ago he was judged as “too old”. And now he’s in the Azzurri. FFS… He always gave his 100% to the team. Even more. Still could use him.
Another Maldini and Pioli disaster to allow him go and sign average replacements
Let’s be real guys, his form hasn’t been exactly stellar since he left. It’s only now that he’s having a second wind in his career. He’s lost pace, but still has good ball control. But reality is he was on the decline. Maybe he had a year more in him at a high level but I’ve seen him play for viola and many times it wasn’t the old Jack we know. He left at a time we were fond of him instead of labouring on the field. I’d say he left at the right time