Aster Vranckx has spoken about why he decided to join AC Milan from Wolfsburg this summer, revealing that the youth project was certainly an influential factor.
Of Congolese descent, Vranckx came through the ranks of Belgium club KV Mechelen before signing for Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga last summer. He then decided to leave Germany in favour of trying out Serie A, arriving at Milan on a loan with option to buy deal.
He has so far made just one appearance off the bench for the Rossoneri as his adaptation to Stefano Pioli’s demands and his complex tactical mechanisms continues, but he has been promised more playing time.
Vranckx was interviewed by the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad during which he spoke about his time at Wolfsburg, why he decided to try a new adventure in Italy and his ambitions with the national team. MilanNews translated his comments, which we have translated below.
On his period in Germany: “Things did not go as expected in Wolfsburg.”
If the old coach had stayed: “I can’t really answer, I don’t know. In football, things can change quickly. The new coach told me that at the moment he saw better other players and that they would have priority, but also said that he considered me a good player and all these things, but that he could not give me the minutes I wanted.”
On the transfer to Milan: “I had to look for a solution and I liked the Milan project a lot. They work a lot with the young players and they immediately showed me that they really want to give me opportunities. Although obviously I have to work a lot, that’s how it works in a great club. It’s part of the job.”
On earning a call-up to the next European Championships: “When I make a decision, I always support it 100%. If it arrives, it arrives. If it does not arrive, I will be very sorry. But I will not regret having gone to Milan, that’s for sure.”
On the relationship with the other Belgians at Milan: “I hang out with Charles a lot, he also gave me some advice. I’m very happy for these guys and my time will come.”
On Belgium: “I want to become a Red Devil as soon as possible, but I don’t tell myself immediately: within two years I have to be there.”
On his role in U21s: “I am always one of the leaders of the group anyway, now that I have been given the captain’s armband I have to prove it even more. Not that I’m the kind of person who wants to set the rules off the pitch. In the youth teams, at times, I was captain, but usually I played with a bigger team and the captain was someone bigger than me.”
