Gila discusses Milan arrival, first impressions of Amorim, new team-mates and preferred role

Mario Gila confirmed that AC Milan’s interest in signing him stretched back a while as he revealed his delight after finally signing.

The signing of Gila from Lazio earlier this month was greeted with a lot of enthusiasm given just how impressive the centre-back has been during his time in Serie A. The links with a move to Milan date back months and even into the season prior, which show how he caught the eye.

Read SempreMilan ad-free and get access to exclusive news. Click here for a free trial!

Now all that remains to be seen is where the new head coach Ruben Amorim plans to use the Spaniard in his three-man defence. The more natural fit seems to be on the right, taking Fikayo Tomori’s spot, but he can also play down the middle as the anchor man.

Gila on first impressions, team-mates, role and more

Gila met the fans today at the Milan Store on Via Dante and as part of it he answered questions from the journalists in attendance. Below are his comments, relayed by MilanNews.

How is your integration in Milan going?

“Good, good. I’m very happy. I gave a little preview of my impressions of AC Milan [in his first interview]. Since I arrived, I mean football-wise, I’ve felt very good. The guys are a great group, it’s like a family… Even the staff, the warehouse workers, the medical staff.

“My team-mates are very good, I’m very happy to be in a team like this. I feel good in the city. It’s true that I haven’t experienced it much so far; I’m at Milanello.

“But in the few days I’ve had off, I’ve felt very good and relaxed. Now I’ve practically found a home. I want to experience it and feel a little like it’s my own.”

What has surprised you in these first days at Milan and under Amorim?

“What I liked about the club, especially the grandeur it shows, is a huge club. The services at Milanello are incredible, everyone is very helpful, and I’m very happy. Then, speaking of football, I’m happy that Ruben Amorim plays a very modern game.

“He works a lot with the ball and also on physicality, a lot. But it’s a style of play that I like; I think I can do very well, even though I haven’t practiced it much in recent years at Lazio. But I think it can help me improve a lot as a player.”

On the first day of the training camp, Amorim took you aside for a long chat. Can you tell us about your choice to join Milan? Who convinced you?

“Amorim and I talked a bit about our approach to football, what we agree on. We talked a lot about his style of play, about things I’ve done in different styles of play under different coaches. We compared ideas a bit, we talked about having the same way of thinking about football. We think very similarly.

“I’m very happy, I shared my way of thinking with the coach, and he also explained how he sees it. I really liked it. He was partly the one who pushed me to choose this place.

“I have to say that it may not have been Milan’s best moment, but I like it because joining teams that are winning isn’t particularly satisfying. Arriving at a place where people want to help you grow… I like these challenges; I think it’s even more wonderful. That’s also why it was chosen.”

There are a lot of young players at the training camp. Have they impressed you?

“You see guys with so much potential. It’s true that they’re young, but they’re ready to make the leap in quality. You can see how much they work for a big club like Milan, where they have a responsibility. I think they can make the leap in quality this year and help us.”

👋 Mario Gila waves to the fans outside the Via Dante Milan store ahead of his meet and greet.

📹 @AntoVitiello pic.twitter.com/67ldNNglo0

— SempreMilan (@SempreMilanCom) July 22, 2026

In the three-man defence, what position is the coach trying you in? Where do you feel most comfortable?

“He tried me both as a centre-back and on the outside. I like both positions, they’re very different. Central is more about positioning and ball control, with a way of moving forward that helps the team and covering spaces when the wing-backs move up.

“It’s a phase I enjoy. I show off my potential, which is speed. As an outside centre-back, I move much more forward. I like being arrogant and aggressive in that sense. It depends on the game. There are games where you maybe have to control the play more, and I like that.

“There are games where I can move forward more. When Tudor was coaching me, I even played as a left-back, which I also like. They’re different styles – I like both and I’m ready for both.”

Allegri and Tare wanted you here at Milan, but now Allegri is at Napoli and Tare is no longer here. Can you tell us a little behind the scenes?

“It’s true that Allegri wanted me, it’s silly to deny it. Igli too. That’s how things went, Allegri and Igli left… Ruben’s call came, and seeing this desire to have me on the Milan team… I think it’s priceless. I think it’s a very big team, with a lot of history, and they’ve shown it to me in these first few days here.

“It didn’t take me long to honestly make up my mind. I really liked the way I was welcomed, I’m happy to be here because I think I can achieve important things. I think I made the right choice.”

What impression did Cardinale make on you?

“I didn’t speak to him before signing, I spoke to him afterwards. It was very quick to find out they were very interested. My decision didn’t take much time. He didn’t even have time to call me because I was very clear about coming here.

“When everything was finalised, he wrote to me saying he was very happy to see me and that I was here, and that he was waiting for me with open arms.”

Is there a team-mate you’ve already bonded with these days?

“One personality I really liked, the one who made me immediately join the team, was Gabbia. He’s a very important leader within the team. Then there are a couple of young players, Camarda and Bartesaghi.

“I’ve bonded really well with them, I’m almost always with them, and I was really pleased that they welcomed me into the team so quickly.”

Amorim said he wants an attacking, dominant style of football. Does that scare you defenders?

“I like the idea of ​​going on the attack and then maybe leaving the defenders in difficult situations for us, but that’s the way football is today. If you create good tactical positions to attack as a team, the defence can do a good job.

“That’s the way football is today: if you want to go on the attack, you have to take risks, perhaps on defensive security. Maybe if you play against a three-man attack, you stay one-on-one and have to fight.

“These are the players who are worth their while: the ones who win duels, the ones who get you out of difficult situations. If you want to go forward, you have to take risks at the back.

“That doesn’t mean there’s no defensive responsibility in football, but it’s a football that promotes much more attacking play. As for my style, I think that’s how football is becoming, and we need to get used to it as soon as possible. It will bring us many positive results.”

We know your strengths very well. Is there a weakness you need to work on to make the national team?

“I have no problem answering. I consider myself a player who, when I’m in a very positive moment of a match, gains a lot of confidence, and maybe I like myself too much by wanting to do too much.

“It’s something that changes with maturity, knowing how to manage those moments when you feel really good. For a player, the confidence he has in his head and psychologically is very important, so I have to manage when I do things really well and be more calm. Manage that confidence better.

“It’s something I have to work on, and I know I’ll improve. I hope so.”