Primavera forward Emil Roback has confirmed that he has signed a new five-year contract with AC Milan, keeping him at the club until 2026.
Last summer, Milan signed Roback from Hammarby IF in Sweden, in a deal which according to many news outlets the Rossoneri paid about €1.5million for the Swedish winger. It didn’t take long until the young Swede had debuted for the senior team in the last pre-season games of the summer, as well as impressing many in his brief appearances.
It didn’t take long for him to make an impressive. Swedish news site FotbollDirekt reported on Wednesday that Milan have already offered the 18-year-old a new contract which, according to the site, is expected to be finalised at the end of the week.
Now, Roback has given an interview to SportExpressen during which he confirmed that he has put pen to paper on a new contract while discussing several topics.
You train quite a lot with the first team but play matches regularly with Primavera?
“Yes, it is every week that I train with the first team and it is not a wow-factor anymore, it is everyday. Now I’m used to it.”
How do you think you rank regarding the competition during training?
“I think I’m doing fine and rank well. To be honest, it’s a little easier than I thought to get into it. It’s so much faster, but it didn’t take long to adapt. But then there are such good players in the training and it makes it easier to find some space and you get better service to work with.”
Does it feel bitter that Inter won the league for you at Milan?
“Yes, it’s sour of course. Bitter. It was a day here when they really celebrated and then it was full of Inter supporters in town who shouted and celebrated. Of course, it does not feel good, you wish we were the ones to celebrate instead.”
How has the social aspect been since you signed for Milan?
“The first two months were a bit difficult. I missed my family at home and the friends. But now it feels good and I have gotten into everything. My mom and girlfriend come down and visit often. I have an apartment here in central Milan and it is a fantastic city. There is so much to do and many great places in the centre. Restaurants and stuff.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has helped you a lot?
“Yes, we have a very good relationship. He cares and takes care of you. He immediately said when I arrived that it was important that I learned the language and I have tried to learn. It’s okay, actually. When a person speaks Italian to me, I understand but usually answer in English.”
How else has Zlatan helped you?
“He helps me a lot. He’s very, very tough, but that’s how it should be. It makes you better. When you do something wrong in training, you hear it and he can shout at you. But it’s just fine and I’m very grateful for what he has done for me and that he cares so much.”
What would you say has been the biggest challenge football-wise so far?
“It feels like I got into the tempo quite well, but it is of course a different style of play here in Italy. It’s a bit different in terms of playing style and how they play tactically. It is quite physical and also tough mentally and it is important to be strong as a result.”
Any players other than Zlatan who stood out and impressed you?
“Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers. They are two players I like. There is some ‘street player’ style to them if you understand what I mean. They do things that almost no one else can, tricks, dribbles and stuff. I like that.”
You extended your contract after just under a year. What can you say about that?
“Yes, when I turned 18, we extended the contract so it was a total of five years. It was recently, in the last few days. It feels wonderful to sign a long contract with such a nice club. It is impossible to describe that feeling.”
What goal do you have for the remainder of the season and for the next one?
“We have four matches left with the first team and nine with the Primavera team. I hope to be in one of the games with the first team. I have trained a lot with them this week so I hope to be there against Juventus. Otherwise, it’s just that I will continue to develop and hope to play as much as possible.”
he’s a nice lad and his physicality will take him far, but he needs to improve on his smoothness and skills