The agent of Thiago Motta has spoken about his client’s future amid links with AC Milan, while he also discussed Joshua Zirkzee and Alexis Saelemaekers too.
There is no doubt that the surprise of this Serie A season is Motta’s Bologna, as their Champions League dreams continue to look more and more like reality with the passing of the weeks.
With the coach’s excellent work, Bologna are inevitably displayign some of the brightest jewels in the league too and there could well be a lot of summer interest in players like Zirkzee – who is a top target for Milan – and also Riccardo Calafiori.
These are players who have grown exponentially under the technical guidance of the Italian-Brazilian, who is also in the sights of the big teams. Speaking to MilanNews, the coach’s agent Dario Canovi gave some more insight.
Thiago Motta is doing a great job in Bologna…
“I don’t want to be immodest, but already when he was playing I told him that he would be one of the greatest European coaches.”
What led you to be so confident?
“After 50 years of football I think I understand at least a little, I’m not talking about football but about people. And Thiago is such an intelligent person that he couldn’t help but follow this path.”
The environment in Bologna seems ideal…
“This certainly made the task easier. There is a nice environment, then look at the union of the players: just see how they celebrate and what relationship there is between them and Thiago, yes you see how much respect and affection there is.
“Look, I told him at the time: if you make me die before coaching a team in the Champions League I’ll come down from the sky and kick your ass. There won’t be any risk, because I’m sure that they will make it.”
Beyond the results and the style of play, it is impressive how some players have improved significantly since the beginning of the season. Starting with Zirkzee, Milan’s number one target…
“He has undoubtedly improved him, but I wouldn’t even need to say it because the numbers before this year speak for themselves but above all the fact that the player himself recognised it.
“After Arnautovic left, Thiago invested him with a great responsibility and made him grow faster. And when you play all the time, you gain experience.”
He is the number one target of Milan’s attack. Could he be the right man?
“He is certainly ready for a great team. And he still has room for improvement. Price? The price is set by the market, so if there are clubs willing to pay a lot, then it’s worth it. Otherwise his value will be that of the highest bidder. As long as Bologna is willing to sell him.”
Is there this possibility?
“It depends on how the season ends. A Bologna without the Champions League is one thing, a Bologna in the Champions League is another matter.”
Saelemaekers could be a counterpart. The Belgian, among other things, is finding a certain consistency on the left wing with Motta…
“He also spoke very highly of Thiago in an interview, he said that he owes him a lot. So I’ll stop at the player’s words which are the most important.
“What is certain is that Saelemaekers was already an important player even before arriving at Bologna. Playing continuously and evidently in the ideal zone is helping him to grow.”
Another name on the notebooks of Milan and beyond is that of Riccardo Calafiori, who was signed from Basel and rediscovered as a high-quality central defender…
“One of Thiago’s prerogatives is knowing how to immediately identify the quality of a player and make him play in the right position. Calafiori knows how to play both centre-back and full-back well and in the Under 21s he played also in midfield. It’s clear that the maturation occurred this year with Thiago but the qualities were already there. Of course, playing in a team that works helps a lot.”
As a football man, how do you evaluate Milan’s season?
“Extremely positive. They didn’t start very well but being second behind this Inter team cannot be considered a failure. The Nerazzurri are the strongest this year, then you can’t always win.”
The problem is precisely this: finishing second behind historical rivals…
“It’s true and I can understand it (laughs). After all, I had a father who was a Milan fan and all my cousins were Inter fans, I was born into these things.”
