Midfielder Tommaso Pobega has revealed that he is already thinking about the possibility of a return to Milan once his loan is done.
Milan chose to let Pobega leave on loan to Spezia during the summer transfer window having got a deal for Sandro Tonali over the line.
Although an option to buy is included in favour of the newly-promoted club, the Rossoneri management also inserted a buy-back clause to protect themselves and also renewed his contract until 2025.
A number of reports – including one from Fabrizio Romano – have claimed that Milan are monitoring the progress of the Italy U21 international and that the most likely scenario at this stage is that the Rossoneri will indeed use their buy-back and Pioli will have him for the 2021-22 season.
Pobega spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his future, and made his feelings on the matter clear.
“I want to return to Milan. Before moving to Spezia I played in a friendly against Monza and Vicenza,” he said (via MilanNews).
“I realised that Milan was ready for the leap in quality: it’s a great team, everyone knows what they have to do on the pitch and the characteristics of the individuals are enhanced. Rather, I was sorry to play with Spezia in a deserted San Siro, it was very sad.
“I am a mezzala. If necessary I can do other things, but it depends on the context and my characteristics. I always give everything. I am a worker: that is the key word. I like to make myself available for the team and guarantee intensity, commitment, and help.
“Before going on loan to Spezia, Maldini wished me good luck and he encouraged me to work well because AC Milan follows me. That’s where I want to return.”
Pobega has had a good start to the season for the newly-promoted club even scoring against Juventus and Benevento, and Milan knew they could have made a capital gain with his sale but said no.
“The search for a shooting opportunity at the right timing is something I always train on. I’m also trying to improve in shooting from outside. My first goal in Serie A was scored against Buffon, I’m 21, he is 42, double the age, it’s strange,” he said.
“As a child, I was a Juventus player. In 2012 Cagliari-Juve was played in Trieste and I was one of the ball boys. That evening when Conte’s Juve won the Scudetto, I was a ball boy also at San Siro.
“I moved to Milan at the age of 14. I lived it as a wonderful experience, but it was hard. In Trieste, I was the starlet, and at the beginning I played little at Milan. The boarding school was attached to the stadium and I could see San Siro from the window.
“As a child, my favourite player was Bastian Schweinsteiger, I liked how he moved on the pitch.”
