Fabio Borini, played for AC Milan during the Chinese ownership and left in January 2020 to join Hellas Verona on a free transfer before switching destination again and sign for Turkish outfit Fatih Karagümrük.
The versatile Italian spoke to Calciomercato.com about many topics, such as Milan. Here are his words:
On his versatility; playing in many roles with Gattuso and Montella:
"At Milan I was less of an attacker than elsewhere (laughs), that's for sure. I would have given total availability anyway because by doing so I took the satisfaction of playing more. In front of me I had strong people like Calhanoglu and Suso, I would have taken away any further chances to play. I've always given priority to the team, it's the coach's job to understand where I can be useful to the team. Saying no to certain opportunities is like shooting yourself in the foot."
On Calhanoglu's growth:
"I'm not surprised at all. You could see that he had it, that he wanted to bring out all of his personality. Except that he is a very sensitive character, you can't see it from the outside. Some situations are sometimes not in his control, such as coach changes and social instability that have influenced him. But, sensitive does not mean being weak, quite the contrary. Now you are seeing, with a little more support and with the strength that results and teammates give, what he can give on the pitch. In my opinion, it can do even little more than that."
Would you recommend that Calhanoglu renews his contract with Milan?
"I would definitely recommend it. He should renew his contract with the Rossoneri."
You were decisive in Europe with Milan in the double confrontation with Ludogorets. What was your highest moment in the Rossoneri and what should the Devil expect from Thursday's match against Red Star?
"It is difficult, even with a simple slip on the pitch. All this comes from my experience in English football. I had played here on the Besiktas pitch, there were already 60,000 fans booing us for two hours before the kick-off."
On the Derby della Madonnina, do your former teammates start as underdogs compared to an Inter with the wind in their sails after having overtaken Milan in the standings?
"Of my teammates there are actually few left (laughs). Perhaps it is better to arrive at a derby with a bit of anger derived from defeat. It takes a bit of healthy competitive nastiness. It's one of those matches, as I said before, very different without fans. Then it was a long time since we saw a Milan-Inter so important given the current ranking of the two teams and the fans could make you change the game. Milan must play on the desire to put the arrow back on Inter, not to be satisfied, the championship is still very long and anything can happen."
Considering the path that Milan have followed after the interruption of the championship last March, do you have any more regrets about not staying in the Rossoneri with Stefano Pioli?
"I didn't play. I'm a professional who wants to play and I didn't do it there anymore, it is as simple as that."
