Samuele Ricci will soon officially become an AC Milan player, and Empoli’s president Fabrizio Corsi has shed some light on the midfielder.
Ricci has been linked with Milan for years, even dating back to his time with Empoli, and rumours in the last few months seemed to suggest that it was only a matter of time before he joined the Rossoneri.
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Fabrizio Romano tweeted the ‘Here we go’ on Saturday afternoon, and the Diavolo are now poised to sign him for a total package of €25m. To be precise, it is a €23m fee as the fixed part and €2m in bonuses.
Corsi sheds light
The president of Empoli spoke to Tuttosport about Ricci, who came through the youth sector there and made his Serie A breakthrough with the Tuscan club. His comments were relayed by MilanPress.
What is Ricci like?
“Samuele has been with us since he was a child, I saw him when he was ten years old. The comments made about him were all positive. You already had the impression that he would play in Serie A. And at a high level.
“These are the things that stick in your mind, like when he made his debut with us at 18, with this technical and physical mastery: he has important physical values by nature. So I expected he would play at a high level, for sure.”
Is he the pride of Empoli’s youth sector?
“He has important values, like a top player. And we already had the signal when at 17 he went through the retreat with the big boys. I have in mind the results of the stress tests of a first-rate athlete.
“Today he is a midfielder for the national team, he will play for Milan, a team with title ambitions. We are proud of what we have been proposing for many years. And let me say that we have an important asset among the youth teams.”
Will he be useful for Allegri?
“An important coach, especially in managing the player from a human perspective, knows how to give particular motivation to the boys. Samuele will have the advantage of having the skills of his new coach behind him.”
And with Modric?
“We are talking about a champion and Samuele, just by listening to some of his suggestions, will be able to improve. Ricci is very sure of his means, he has personality, he is not afraid of making mistakes, this is another step that gives the dimension of the footballer.”
