Tommaso Mancini was heavily linked with a move to AC Milan ahead of the last summer transfer window but he has explained why he decided to pick Juventus instead.
The speculation got so intense regarding the teenage striker that Calciomercato.com reported how Milan were in the final stages of talks with his club and would pay €1.5m plus bonuses to Vicenza and have him join the Primavera.
Mancini spoke during an interview with Juventusnews24.com and he was asked about his decision to join them over the other Serie A clubs that were keen on him, including the Rossoneri.
“I had little time to decide because until mid-July I was busy with the national team, we had a tournament. Then I had those five days of vacation where I relaxed the most, and so I thought,” he said (via MilanNews).
“There have been some great opportunities, my choice came when I decided I wanted to go to Juve. I told my dad, my family and I chose Juventus.
“I was lucky enough to visit many teams: I believe that Juve is the club with the structures and with a path, thanks also to Next Gen, that can help me grow more than any other.”
It is interesting that the 18-year-old mentioned the appeal of the Next Gen team as part of his development given there are numerous sources claiming Milan are giving serious thought to the idea of having a second team like Juventus.
He knows milan hates italians nowadays so naturally doesn’t want to come here as he’d never get a chance
yh I am sure it had nothing to do with the 1.5m euro signing fee and apartments for his family that his father requested for him to sign for us, so Maldini told him to fk off
This is my recollection of how it played out.
No player from NextGen Juventus play for juve first team. He must mention it too.