Francesca Vitale has officially left the AC Milan Women. The announcement was posted on the player’s Instagram earlier today.
The defender has played a total of 29 matches for Milan and has started 20 of them. She’s also won 56.2% of her duels and has made 27 successful interventions as she kept her opponents at bay. As a centre-back, she wasn’t known for scoring many goals, but she did score a very memorable one against Juventus in 2019.
Vitale also captained AC Milan when they a Serie B side. Afterward, she joined the now disbanded ASD Mozzanica before joining Milan again in Serie A. And in her words, she wore the jersey proudly and sought to honor it, every single time she played for the team.
Her statement on Instagram reads as follows: “I started playing football with the Rossoneri colours, I grew up and I have always hoped to be able to wear the AC Milan and my hometown jersey, transforming my greatest passion into my job.
“I wore the Rossoneri shirt with pride, trying to honor it at every match, because that’s what Milan is. Two intense years, a beautiful journey that from the first day I hoped would last as long as possible but in life as in football not always everything goes as we would like.
“But there comes a time when you stop and understand that it’s time to start a new path.
“I thank and take with me all the Rossoneri fans, your every word of affection and esteem, your every song, the cheers and the roar at the Brianteo stadium that I will never be able to forget.
I thank the companions who listened to me, understood and supported me in difficult moments.
“I thank the people who shared this experience with me, always encouraging and supporting me.
We rejoiced and cried.
We made the history of Milan with the first qualification in the Champions League and the first match on the San Siro lawn. My legs were shaking, my heart in my throat: an emotion impossible to describe but which I wish for anyone!
“A chapter closes in which I tried to give my all, when the legs did not reach I tried to put my heart into it. I worked to improve myself and found strengths that I didn’t even know I had.
“Now is the time to move forward, I will take your teachings with me, without forgetting anything, using every experience I have lived to be stronger in the future.
“Goodbye Milan, you will always be my city.
Goodbye Milan, you will always remain a beautiful part of my life.”
All the best at your next destination, Francesca, and thank you for your service to the Rossonere.
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