Former AC Milan striker Jean-Pierre Papin has revealed a funny anecdote about when he signed for the club, while giving his thoughts on the upcoming Champions League action.
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Papin rose to prominence in Ligue 1 with Marseille where he won the league title in in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992, the Coupe de France in 1989 and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 1991.
In 1992 he left for Milan where he won Serie A and the UEFA Champions League in 1994, then he went to Bayern Munich, with which he won the UEFA Cup in 1996. The Frenchman is considered to be one of the best centre-forwards of his generation, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1991.
Speaking at the Festival Dello Sport, Papin told some anecdotes about his career as a player, reliving his experience at Milan under Silvio Berlusconi, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
The 1991 Ballon d’Or winner began by speaking about the upcoming Champions League match between PSG and Milan and the Mbappè-Leao comparisons.
“I left Marseille after wonderful years, 6 incredible years with many goals scored and several trophies won. In the last match with OM I greeted my fans and said that I would go to play for Milan,” he said.
“Marseille for me was the place where I became a player but I decided to choose Milan because it was my dream. At that time it was the strongest team in the world and having the opportunity to play for this club was a real privilege.
“Plus I would have played with Marco Van Basten who was an idol for me. At Milan it was me, Gullit and Van Basten: 3 Ballon d’Or winners Little else to add. The strongest team in the world.
“When I won the Ballon d’Or they called me at home. I thought it was a joke and put it down. They called five minutes later and my wife answered, she understood that it was all true.
“It is a prize that remains for life, something wonderful. In my time I don’t think it was worth more or that it was more complicated to win it. You have to be very good, always.
“PSG-Milan is about to be played, they have hired a good coach in Luis Enrique. The problem for the Rossoneri is to block Mbappè because he remains the strongest of all. We need a perfect match like what Newcastle did against them.
“Kylian is a killer, he can make the difference in an instant. Rafael Leao is equally capable but from this point of view he is less continuous in being decisive than Mbappe. It is still a balanced match.
“Mbappe has to win the Ballon d’Or, the problem for him is that it’s not enough to do great things in the French league. Donnarumma for me is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. I don’t know why in some important matches he makes incredible mistakes.”
Papin revealed some of the details of his first meeting with President Berlusconi and the friendship he has with Olivier Giroud.
“The first meeting with Berlusconi was in Arcore. He had me picked up at the airport. When I entered the house he welcomed me by singing a French song on the piano.
“Inside I thought: ‘but where did I end up’. We had lunch together and he spoke to me in French. I saw all the trophies he had won and which were there in Arcore. His Milan was truly another world.
“I often speak to Giroud and to him every time he talks about the Milan gives him goosebumps. Olivier also told me about the Genoa match, only a madman could make that choice and that save, but he is an incredible professional.”
Finally, Papin gave his thoughts on Yacine Adli’s recent resurgence in the regista role.
“I spoke to Adli because I lived in Bordeaux. I told him that he had a problem for Italian football: he didn’t know how to defend. He only had the attacking ability. Now he has understood what the problem is, he has adapted to Italian football and Pioli has been able to work with it.”
