Davide Frattesi has announced that he has made a choice regarding where he wants to move in the summer but acknowledged that not everything always goes to plan.
Milan are about to sell Sandro Tonali to Newcastle United in a deal that will see them net over €70m as per widespread reports, so now the management must look to use that money to rebuild a midfield that is already short on depth and quality.
The Rossoneri have been heavily linked with a move to Frattesi, who could pick up from Tonali’s departure in terms of bringing Italian influence to the midfield in his preferred mezzala role, however there is a lot of competition.
Inter are widely believed to be the frontrunners to sign him, and the Sassuolo man sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport to reveal some things about the way he sees his future going.
Davide, do you often check your phone these days?
“Not really. I asked my agent Riso to notify me only when almost everything is done and so I condemned myself to self-destruction. He is hermetic. His collaborators are terrified of Riso and tell me nothing. Luckily my grandmother Stefania is here: every day she sends me the press review made by her. Fantastic.”
What effect does reading about the market derby between Inter and Milan for you, as well as the interest of Juventus?
“It’s a good feeling, I can’t deny it. But now I’m a little anxious: I would like the situation to be defined. And I think of my grandfather Carmine, who read the newspapers, loved football and today he would be very happy.”
You will understand that I cannot ask you what the sea is like in Ibiza. So… are Inter ahead?
“Ahahah… But you will understand that this time I can’t be without filters as in the other interviews. It would not be correct to indicate a team because negotiations can die suddenly.
“But I’ll try to be extremely honest: I chose the team. And I’m sure my attorney will find a way to accommodate me, otherwise I’ll send him… to the sea. But I feel that there are other clubs interested in me.”
What is the first discriminant of his choice?
“The role. I’m a midfielder and I want to be exploited for my characteristics. I think it’s normal. [An example] She likes to write, if she is asked to present a TV show, maybe she thinks about it, but then tries to continue writing. Here, for me the concept is the same.”
You would join Barella at Inter, you both prefer the centre-right. Would it be a problem?
“Absolutely no. I can start on the left, so when I focus I shoot with my good foot. That with the other I sometimes do damage…”
Wouldn’t internal competition scare you?
“No, it would affect me in a positive way: when I have to prove something, I can give more.”
Does the Champions League – which you would have with the Milanese teams but not with Juve – affect your choice?
«I think about it, I would like to play in it, but that’s not the first thing. The project matters more. Just as it doesn’t change going to a team ready to win or to rebuild: I would be charged in the same way. At 23, it’s time to take on certain responsibilities.”
The sale of Tonali has suddenly opened the channel with Milan, who are looking for a great midfielder, and there have been offers from abroad too. Is there closure on his part?
“I can only tell you what I guaranteed to Giovanni Carnevali: if irrevocable offers arrive, we listen to them. Indispensable eh.”
The 4-2-3-1 is not ideal due to your characteristics…
“In Sassuolo I played that system with good results in the first year, thanks to Dionisi. But the fact remains that with three I can give more.”
Davide, did you know that with the shirt of a top club on, if you have a bad game criticism rains down?
“That’s the beauty of it. I want to do my best from the first to the last game.”
“In Sassuolo I played that system with good results in the first year, thanks to Dionisi. But the fact remains that with three I can give more.”
Pioli’s side is not his preferred option.
Yup, clear as day. On the previous sentence was already clear as hell too; “The role. I’m a midfielder and I want to be exploited for my characteristics.”
Speaking of Pioli, with him being the centre of Milan’s policy, did he have a say towards Tonali’s departure? I really can’t wait to hear his side of story. Tonali and Isma were the vital part of his formation. And before that, Kessie, and we all know how it turned out.
And now, we’ll start a season without none of the mentioned names above. We all know sometimes (if not most of the times) it’s hard for a player to adapt to his system. It takes time. And it’s a big big gamble to keep playing his system without having players who understand and experienced the role. Moreover for the vital double pivot role.
Lord Krunic is Pioli’s answer. 😎
could be Milan will go 433 next season. kamada can play am and cm
I don’t see it in near future. It took such a massive downfall for Pioli to even thinking changing and adapting formation back in Jan.
Has Pioli succesfully use 4-3-3?
at lazio. it really is no big diffrence to 4231 tho except the dm is fixed there in double pivot they change who stays behind as the game flows
Good, force Pioli to switch to 4-3-3 so he is forced to play CdK as RW. 4-2-3-1 doesn’t have much success in recent times anyway.
433 will definitely suit the team best IF we had a coach who knew how to use that formation. But Pioli is a one trick pony and so tactically inept, he makes 433 play as 4231 and we end up losing most matches. We saw the disaster performance of Pioli’s 433. I hope for the sake of milan that he doesn’t use 433.
Loud n’ clear which team is he preffered. To be brutally honest, Inter will indeed exploit more of his characteristic. That’s why in the first place I already said he’s not an apple to apple replacement of Tonali, or Isma.
It’s hard to get rejected (as it seems from his saying) but let’s be honest right now our project is not so appealing for a player like him. Do you want to play for the team who sold Tonali or to the one who kept Barella? Hard to blame him.
The 2- vs 3- man midfield is also a reason but he says it clearly: “the project matters more”.
The picture of him on the left was actually taken as he headed into the interview.
And the right was after he finished the interview? 🤔
So, a young player prefers Simone as his coach over Pioli? WHAT. A. SHOCK! lmfao
And inter.. with 300mil debt is.. keeping Barella.. AND buying Frattesi? While we.. are on profit.. selling Tonali to make a bunch of free transfers so far? LMFAO
Damn we sure want to win UCL this season don’t we? lol
you think Inter’s position is better? You want to be in debt? you insane?
I think you missed his point. I think what he meant is that a team which is deep in neck on debt could still hold on to their bandiera and even buying a reinforcement. As opposed to our financial situation which was more secure, yet we just sold our main MF for next season.
Only 4-5 clubs in Europe that are debt-free. As long as the club uses the debt productively, there’s no need to overly scare. It’s not our job. We’re just fans.
Dude, grow up. Debt is quite normal, there is a difference in using loans to improve your business and spending like an idiot. Not all debt is the same. The world is in debt, your country is in debt, your parents probably, you. I can go on. So you are all insane people?
Newcastle only offer 50m pound to zhang , it is about 58m euro . Of course rejected not because zhang want barella stay. Zhang asking 100m euro start negotiate, newcastle dont want to pay that amount and move to another target like tonali that cost more cheap. Zhang will sell because his club need 60m euro capital gain to avoid FFP this season ,he already start with brozovic 25m euro sell to saudi club, Zhang also need sell player due to IM budget transfer are 0 so only fee from barella or onana can fund the transfer budget
Hahahahahahahaha
No outlet reprorted that Zhang wanted any fee from Newcastle. Inter just rejected their bid outright without a Single counter offer. It means the player isn’t for sale. Newcastle got the message and moved for Tonali. Not sure where you read that Barella was for sale for 100m. No other big club owner is a tapeworm like Cardinale my friend. The fact that Inter is taking the highground when it comes to club pride is a fckn sad day for us Milan fans.
Let say this, Tonali wants to leave Milan because reason on told. The agent brought the deal first before Milan accepted to sell. So let move on
According to Di Marzio, Tonali had not consider the offer when Furlani and Moncada met with his agent. It was in this meeting that Furlani and Moncada informed his agent that they will accept the deal of it is high.
Sounds very much like he’s already agreed with Inter and they’re waiting for Brozovic to go to free up space. What happens when you plan these things well in advance…
Who picks a selling team to join? To maybe be sold within’ a year? Makes sense, they only person that could be pushing for the move is his agent as he will make more money if players are sold around. Ridiculous. I mean Frattesi sees that Milan sold Tonali who was a childhood fan, he know he is out with the first good offer.
Yeah, everyone will pick Milan now if they are looking for a jumping board to City, Real, Barcelona, because that is what Milan is. Or Newcastle.
It is clear he chose inter plus I think our management is not going to exceed 20m€ for any purchase this mercato. U will see that tonali money will be invisted on 4 or 5 purchases