Olivier Giroud has cited God as the reason that he ended up becoming an AC Milan player rather than joining city rivals Inter.
Giroud spoke at a press conference to mark his official unveiling as a Milan player and was questioned about a variety of different topics including his decision to join the club and targets for the season ahead.
Among the subjects put forward to the 34-year-old was why he decided to try a new adventure in Italy with AC Milan and not with rivals Inter, who have been strongly linked with him over the past few months.
“I’m a Christian and I think God wanted me to move to Milan this season and not Inter the last one and I’m happy with that,” he said (via MilanNews).
Giroud was also linked with a move to Lazio before signing with Milan, as Maurizio Sarri spoke very highly of the forward. The ex-Arsenal man was asked if he talked with his former boss at Chelsea about a move to the Italian capital.
“No, I didn’t talk to him but I heard what he said about me. It’s very nice to hear these words from him and we shared a good season together by winning a trophy, his first. In that season I played a lot, I was the top scorer and for me it was a great satisfaction. I remember him as a great manager and a great man.”
Giroud also spared a few words on his first impressions of Stefano Pioli: “I hope to have good moments also with Mr. Pioli whom I consider to be a great coach, with great skills and a great person.”
READ MORE: Giroud encourages Ziyech to join him at Milan and outlines why his time at Chelsea ‘was over’