Former AC Milan midfielder Niccolo Zanellato has told a couple of interesting anecdotes from his time at the club including one involving Leonardo Bonucci.
Zanellato currently plays at Massimo Oddo’s SPAL but his past is very much rooted in red and black given he was born in Lombardy and played for every single age group of the Milan youth team, impressing with the Primavera in the 2016-17 season as he racked up 7 goals and 3 assists in 25 appearances.
He managed to gain the attention of the then-coach of Milan, Vincenzo Montella, and made his debut on 24 August as a starter in the Europa League qualifying match against Skendja which ended 1-0 to the Rossoneri.
At that point it seemed he would be drip fed more and more minutes given his talent and potential, but ultimately his career with Milan never kicked off, so he went on loan with an obligation to buy to Crotone before joining SPAL.
Zanellato gave an interview to Cronache di Spogliatoio about his past at Milan including his debut for the club under Vincenzo Montella, with his comments relayed by MilanLive.
“I remember it like it was yesterday. We were playing in Macedonia and Montella decided to give me the opportunity to play from minute one. He didn’t give me a debut at the end of the game, but as a starter in a European competition. What more could you want? Just think that my uncle and my father fought over that shirt for weeks and in the end I think my uncle won,” he said.
“There is one thing above all that deserves to be told. After the match, won thanks to a goal from my great friend Patrick Cutrone, Bonucci put me in the centre of the dressing room and gave a lot of compliments.
“‘He Looks like he’s been playing here forever. Well done, you have to keep going like this’. There was also Montella who looked at me smiling . This is truly a moment that will stick in my mind, I almost cringe talking about it.”
Montella was a gentleman but a top coach he wasnt.