AC Milan defender Davide Calabria has confirmed that he would love to be captain as he gave an update on his return from injury.
Calabria spoke during an interview with il Corriere dello Sport about a number of different topics ahead of the new season, starting with how he is feeling after the hernia operation he had at the end of last season.
“I feel good and on Tuesday I returned to the group. Missing the Euros? I have no regrets and I am happy that Italy won the European Championship. I took the choice to operate together with Pioli and I don’t think I would have been called up: Mancini hadn’t phoned me or added to the list of players. Seeing how it went, that’s right,” he said (via Calciomercato.com).
“In 2022 there is the World Cup and I hope to be there. Mancini called me up, but I didn’t know him because he had Covid. He said nice words about me that I really appreciated. I will give my best to win back the Azzurri jersey, which is my goal. It will only depend on my performance.”
Milan have been one of the most active teams on the summer transfer, as the Rossoneri have concluded the signings of Mike Maignan, Fikayo Tomori, Sandro Tonali, Olivier Giroud, Fode Ballo-Touré and Brahim Diaz. MilanNews are among the sources to have reported that Milan have already completed €60m of operations.
On the market so far, Calabria added: “The new players seem eager and talented. Giroud is not discovering it: he is a champion who has won a lot. Maignan wants to work and show that he can also be a protagonist in Italy.”
It promises to be a fascinating season in Serie A with only Milan and Atalanta out of the top sides choosing to stick with the current management team. Inter, Juventus, Roma, Lazio and Napoli have all changed head coaches, and Calabria had his say on the shake-up.
“I didn’t really expect Conte’s farewell. And maybe they weren’t even expecting it at Inter. In his place, however, an equally good coach has arrived as he always has with Lazio obtained excellent placings. I don’t have to say anything about Allegri who has returned to Juventus given his past in Juventus.
“Sarri at Lazio and Spalletti at Napoli are two guarantees because they know Serie A. Mourinho is the other big surprise on a personal level because Roma didn’t seem addressed to a profile like his. I’m curious to see him again at work in Italy.
“Inter are one step ahead of everyone because they are the Italian champions and therefore the obligatory favourite. Immediately behind I put Allegri’s Juventus who, as a staff and amount of salaries, are not afraid of comparisons.
“We must try to do the best we can. Last year we finished second and no one thought we could reach that result because the favorites for the title were the teams that finished in the top four the previous season. If nobody believes in us now, it’s better. The goal is to keep improving.”
There is currently a lot of debate and discussion about who should wear the captain’s armband given that Alessio Romagnoli’s contract expires in a year and he seems to have lost his place in the first choice starting XI, with Calabria’s name put forward by some.
“In the squad, I am the one who has worn the Rossoneri shirt for several seasons. Pioli knows what I think and I know what he thinks. It does not change my life to have the arm a piece of cloth, but I do not hide that being captain of Milan would make me proud.”
READ MORE: Leao not on the market for Milan – management believe his breakout is near
Well said. If u are given d captaincy, it’s because u deserve it. U are one d leaders and loyalist in the team. Well done Davide! Forza AC MILAN!❤️