Torino captain Alessandro Buongiorno has admitted that he idolises two AC Milan legends amid links with a potential summer move to the Rossoneri.
Milan were heavily linked with a move for Buongiorno during the January transfer window as they looked for a reinforcement to help their injury crisis.
However, Milan failed to reach the €30-35m that president Urbano Cairo demanded for the Italy international net of any counterparts like Lorenzo Colombo.
There have been reports since suggesting that they could co back in for him when the window reopens, with a new central defender still high on the list of priorities.
Buongiorno gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport about his career to this point and he also mentioned two Milan legends as being among his idols. His comments were relayed by Calciomercato.com.
Tell us about when you rejected Atalanta…
“We talked a lot in those days, the president Urbano Cairo and I, and it seemed to us that staying was the fairer choice, for me and I hope also for the team. I’m fine here, I’m happy. We know we have to leverage the collective, the sense of team. We are an orchestra, not a group of soloists. It’s Torino, my ‘big club’.”
Who is the most difficult player you have faced?
“For me Lukaku. He is very difficult. He has great physicality, and he uses it. You have to be very careful not to give him space. With him you need to play in advance. Another very strong player, also If I’ve never marked him up until now, it’s Osimhen. He’s got running, power, competitive ferocity.”
Who are your idols?
“There are two: Nesta and Maldini. I know their matches by heart, I consumed YouTube to see the way they defended and participated in the game.”
What was your favourite game to this point?
“The one in the Coppa Italia against Milan [11 January 2023]. We had 10 men and won with a goal in the final stages. Then the debut for the national team, during the Nations League.
“I wasn’t among the players called up and I was on holiday with my friends. The day before the call I had made a joke saying that I had been contacted to join the Azzurri. Then when it happened they really didn’t believe it.
“But above all my debut in the Granata shirt against Crotone. I came on in the eightieth minute and injured my elbow six minutes later. Joy and pain, Granata stuff.”
I’m curious who gets signed first, Buongiorno or Conte. They are a match made in heaven.
He’s a captain of his team and that’s the kind of players we need to target. With leading character. Tonali gone, Ibra gone, Kjaer and Giroud soon to be gone. Who’s going to lead this team and step up when needed? Moneyball algorithms?
Exactly. But I’m sure certain people will jump in and remind us that we’ve already got the next leader… Leao. 😀 😀 😀
Kidding aside, there is still Florenzi – for now. But that’s it. Not enough. Every team needs leaders. Multiple. Milan started crumbling when Zlatan got into the surgery. Everything was great until that moment. And after that started the ups and downs. And leaky defense. It would help if the coach was a leader too but that’s something Pioli will never be. So… Fun times ahead, eh?
*Florenzi too
Needs to be one if the first players signed. Him, a striker to replace Giroud when he goes, a Defensive mid, and a new winger if we sell Leao. Zirkee seems to be the favorite for striker, and someone like Gudmundsson who we’ve already been linked to in the summer could be good signings