Sandro Tonali officially joined AC Milan yesterday, as the website of the club announced the transfer of the player from Brescia on an initial high-paid loan deal with the Rossoneri obtaining an option to buy the midfielder outright at the end of the season.
The 20-year-old talent expressed his joy about a move to the San Siro already yesterday evening in his first interview as a Milan player to Sky Sport after signing his contract at Casa Milan.
Afterwards the Italian international published an emotional post on Instagram, showing his enthusiasm about the transfer to his boyhood club. Today the official website of the club published his first official interview for the club’s TV channel, Milan TV.
“My dream came true. It is one of the dreams that many children have. I decided to post that photo on Instagram because it seemed perfect to me as it described the moment I left the Rossoneri colours to embark on a new path and now I’m back in the team. It’s a sign,” he said.
Tonali also spoke about his choice of jersey number, with the midfielder opting for number 8. He revealed the background story of the phone call he had with Gennaro Gattuso, who used to wear the number during his time at the San Siro.
“I chose number 8 because it has meaning both for a midfielder and a Milan midfielder. A player who made Milan history like Gattuso wore it. I called him and he answered me as a coach telling me that I didn’t even have to ask for it, that I had to take it,” he added.
“Meeting Paolo Maldini? As a child I admired him and one day I hope, at most, to be able to take a picture with him. Now I find myself working with him. It is beautiful to work alongside a champion like him. It’s a wonderful feeling.”
The youngster went on to discuss the quality and youth within Stefano Pioli’s team as well as how he is looking forward to playing with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and what is his relationship with his national team teammates.
“It’s a young team, but it has proven to be a great group and a great team. There is a desire to create. There will be opportunities and they must be taken without fear.
“Assisting Ibrahimovic? Maybe it’s easier to assist him since he never misses. It will be great to play with him. Donnarumma, Calabria and Romagnoli? I spoke with them, they are my friends. We had a good time together with the national team and they are young guys like me. They gave me a lot of advice and we are ready for this new adventure.
“The letter I wrote as a child? When I was 10 I wrote that letter, I don’t know what I had in mind (laughs). Certainly, there was a desire to work and give 100%. A message to the fans? Together we can do everything even the impossible things and this Milan will be able to do them,” Tonali concluded.
