Davide Bartesaghi has found himself thrust into the spotlight, and so far he has managed to pass the tests he has been given.
As MilanNews recall, there was a lot of talk in the media and among supporters that Bartesaghi was not ready for the first team. This is a player who in the last three calendar years made the transition from the Primavera to the senior squad, including a full season with Milan Futuro.
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It was last year’s experience, amidst a thousand technical and other difficulties, that forged Davide’s character and gave him much more than a typical loan move, with the risk of finding himself on the bench for six months.
The many games he played in Serie C opened up a new, different world for him, far from the glitter of San Siro and much more complicated than the Primavera. Of those from last season, he is the only one to have remained in the first team squad, with the firm belief of Massimiliano Allegri.
Hard work, belief and confidence
While the harsh criticism surrounding Bartesaghi brewed regarding him not being ready for the first team, the defender worked with his head down to prove it wrong. Last season’s experience has shaped him, and those who work with him every day swear that he’s only at the beginning of his next evolutionary step.
Bartesaghi came through the youth sector and is a boyhood fan of the club. He changed his mental approach to matches above all, having perhaps sometimes been guilty of over-exuberance in the mission to impress (see the red card against Lecce).
Comparing that cameo in 2024 to the start against Juventus in Turin and the further step forward against Fiorentina shows how far he can come. Credit must go to Allegri too, who has absolutely no issues in trusting a strong young player.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the raw materials are there for Bartesaghi to be moulded into whatever Max wants. He is 193cm tall and is not another Theo Hernandez in terms of speed, but at the same time has settled in well at wing-back thanks to his technical ability and work rate.
As mentioned, ‘everyone at Milanello’ has enormous faith in Bartesaghi’s abilities. He has never rested on his laurels and knows full well that what he’s achieved so far is just the beginning. Allegri, the staff, and his team-mates recognised his value right from the start, and he’s now repaying the faith.
What doubters? It was clear to anyone who watched Barteshagi for the Primavera and Italy youth teams that he would do a better job than some foreign Eurotrash.
Did you ever read comments about Bartesaghi? Most people here wanted to get rid of him, wrote he isn’t good enough for Milan, how Italian players are bad and so on.
But I am way more curious about this, what is foreign Eurotrash? :What does that even mean? You know Bartesaghi is from Europe? 😀 You are always brilliant in your comments, the intelligence is dripping from them.
And the player that is starting in front of him is not from Europe? So who is “foreign eurotrash”? 😀
I am still among the doubters. His major problem is that as a fullback you have to be quicker on the first few meters then B is.
He doesnt have to be fast if he intercepts it or is in the right position to cut out passes. You dont have to be the fastest but its a plus.
I like him, always have.
Regardless of mistakes or form you could see the technical ability he has and the frame to grow into
I think his future is at LB or LCB (perhaps like a Bastoni)
I actually have no issues with him on the left side as he does some good passes but could also see him as a cb but if my memory serves me right he actually started out as a midfielder and even has played as a forward in his younger years at the youth ranks.
Right on, we have all seen outfield players become goalkeepers, anything can happen in football. The best position/role will naturally find you if you keep trying and learning. When a good coach arrives, everything will click for you.
Absolutely and even Paolo Maldini started out as a midfielder in the youth ranks which clearly also showed as he became one of the most elegant defenders to ever grace the game.
Glad to see him start well, but he still gets beaten pretty easily by quick players. Playing against proper, non relegation level teams might yield different results. I do think he’s reading the game well which is always a good sign for a young player. Im happy with both him and estupiñon as they seem to complement each other.
Dude needs to be a LCB, he is too slow but tall