Theo Hernandez’s partner Zoe Cristofoli has shed a bit of light on his exit from AC Milan in the last summer window.
The sale of Theo to Al-Hilal is still something that still gets debated now, a few months after it happened. After arriving from Real Madrid in 2019, the Frenchman established himself as one of the best in the world in his position, before a dip towards the end and a rather unceremonious exit.
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Theo’s name has once again been in the headlines recently, but linked with a move to Juventus which caused some panic among Milan fans, who are worried about him coming back to Serie A and potentially being devastating. Fabrizio Romano, however, recently ruled out this suggestion.
Zoe lifts the lid
Zoe spoke in an interview on Luca Casadei’s podcast ‘One more time’ and talked about some of Theo’s difficult moments on and off the pitch, up until his farewell last summer. MilanNews relayed what she had to say.
Can you tell us about the much-talked-about off-the-field incident?
“It was a heavy thing. When scoops and gossip come out, there’s always someone who tells them, but you never know if it’s fictionalised, amplified… So people know this version, not the version of who was really there at the time.
“When you have a lot of money, you’re always surrounded by these kinds of situations where they always try to put you in difficulty. When this event, this thing, happened, it was heavy. But the problems were already there before on the pitch, with the team…
“There were problems… There was no longer a peaceful atmosphere, I no longer saw his serenity at home. I no longer saw him happy, I saw him sad. I saw that something had changed, I no longer saw that Theo.
“It’s difficult when you see your teammate who no longer experiences things the way he used to, who no longer jokes, who is no longer that person… It was heavy. But that’s okay, there are good times and bad times.
“Then this thing happens and this thing comes out and becomes heavy. And obviously you have to defend yourself. First you have to figure out how to defend yourself. You have to decide what I’m still his partner… I know how things happened, I know the truth, I don’t need to know anything else.
“Of course I trusted him. I learned the truth right away, and then people can believe whatever they want. I defend my family and I always will, even more so if I know the truth. I took my side and said this could be a serious matter, so we had to resolve it mentally.
“I told him they wanted a reaction from him, because they know he’s a person who, if touched in certain ways, will react. That’s what they wanted, and he shouldn’t have given it to them. He listened to me. I think in the end we got over what happened.
“Then a lot of things came out that turned the situation around. In the end, there’s no need to say anything, then things come out. The story then ended in a completely different way. People can believe whatever they want.”
What advice did you give him?
“We stayed united, because at that moment we could have split. At that moment, I could have decided to get angry, to tell him to sort it out. Instead, I was aware.
“I said, ‘Okay, let’s try to do things properly because I know the truth. Let’s defend ourselves in the right places.’ Then there were more important issues than that, like his work situation.”
And from there did he decide to go and play in another league?
“It wasn’t that…”.
Not because of that, but for the malaise you were talking about before?
“He would have stayed at Milan forever. Do you know what happened? It even makes me feel a little sick… I’ve always seen him as in love with his job. He lives to play football, and the facts prove it.
“There are players who do many other things off the pitch, he always said no, no, no. Even other jobs, other earnings… He wanted to focus only on that. In Milan he had found his place, he had found a family.
“He would have sold his soul to stay here, but sometimes it’s not up to you. If the situation isn’t right and they don’t want you, what should you do? Because he would have stayed… There wasn’t the same desire. What should he have done? Be treated badly? Stay in a situation that wasn’t right?
“He would have stayed. It was traumatic for us… Then opportunities also come along, and you have to seize them. Make your choices for your family, for your children. In the end, it was a good choice, he’s happy. But for him, this was his home; it will always be a part of him.”
He should have given his everything for the shirt when times were down (like Gabbia, Pulisic and Reijnders) and showed he was a leader. Instead he chose to be lazy, defy his coaches and resort to schwalbes. The fact that not a single European top club (not even Atletico Madrid) took a chance on him, says it all. He was an amazing left-back, but he isn’t missed in the current Milan, where even Modric, a ballon d’or winner, puts the team before himself
Atl. Madrid did want to buy him but the fans of the club was vocal about it as he had joined Real Madrid from them previously. Besides of that it seems like Milan had a better offer from Saudi Arabia and had set their minds on that.
I sometimes miss him at the club but I nevertheless think Bartesaghi has done a splendid job so Theo leaving has gone more smoothly than expected but had that not happened then we would probably not say the same had we been stuck with Estupinan.
A sad story. They shouldn’t have p*ssed on him in that way. Who doesn’t have bad times some day and has to get his sh*t together? That’s not how you treat loyal players.
But on the other hand – as always – life goes on and you will never know what could have been. What would have Bartesaghi become if Theo was still there? (At least we’d have TWO good LBs)
“Who doesn’t have bad times some day and has to get his sh*t together? That’s not how you treat loyal players. ”
Eh, it would be easier to count the good days he had during the last 1,5 years.
And also, the way he behaved isn’t how you treat the club (and fans) that pays your salary.
There’s always two sides of a story.
And neither of them are innocent victims.
So you think that he was right during the water break against Lazio. Leao was protesting too but changed his attitude at the not long after. You seem to forget that it’s multiple events that took him there. Those deliberate red cards cost us tremendously. The team harmony cones before individual players. Look Mike is renewing now, you don’t think that played a part? Put feeling aside use logic.
Ahm… ok. Maybe it was a bit misunderstanding so I’ll try to be more clear.
There’s always (at least) two sides of a story.
And neither (none, no one, everyone involved, wether Theo nor Fonseca nor anyone else involved) of them are innocent victims.
Ole, ole ole ole, Theo Theo 📢🎵
Yeah, Theo was the innocent victim here, right? 😀 😀 😀
Ramble on girl. Forza Bartesaghi!
Please let’s move on. Theo MOVE ON! Loyal players don’t always get their wishes, as clubs don’t always get their players to stay loyal.
Even Modric wanted to remain in Madrid, but he had to leave. Same with Kaka, and other players that we know.
No need for all these media propos.
He was sad and upset about Maldini being saked. He probably was following some of the comments here who knows lol
But no player is bigger than a club.
Finally. The point of view I was dying to know before the Genoa game
I don’t see that in the his play in the last two seasons…
“He would have stayed at Milan forever.”
But on what terms ?
“He would have sold his soul to stay here”
I have no doubts That he loved Milan and probably still does, but saying that one would “sell his soul” to stay when his behaviours and performances on the pitch seem to tell another story.
I don’t think anyone wants to see Théo “sell his soul”, and even if a drop of performances was excusable given that he had no backup, at least try to act like the captain you’re supposed to be…
Theo was a top class defender but things didn’t go well with his performance,he should has been given another chance,how we have a young player in Bateghaghi who many club is trying to sign him with those 2 players Alegri would have played them both which would be a stronger defence in some games,so I think this is the past so we can learn form ou mistakes and also some positive aspects of this player that I love so much when he is on his peak,the decision was made so let’s move on and make Milan great again,we are on the right path we have a lot improved stay together as a team and let get a win in our next game with fiorentina which will be very difficult..Milan forever…