Lukas May, the inaugural mentor of AC Milan's central defender, Malik Thiaw, during his days at Kalkum-Wittlaer, a team located a short half-hour's drive from Düsseldorf, revealed to La Gazzetta how the young 21-year-old kicked off his footballing journey:
"As a child, he towered over his peers, standing at least two or three spans taller than them. Under my guidance, he played as a striker, netting no less than three goals per game with ease. He found ways to score from every angle imaginable. Although he now utilizes it in defense, his sense of anticipation has always been exceptional. When I reminisce about Thiaw, I picture a timid boy who kept to himself and refused to part ways with his mother. But once he stepped onto the pitch, he became someone else entirely. I recall a time when he initiated a play from the back, leaving three defenders in his wake as he struck the ball into the net. He had a knack for tracking the ball down in every inch of the field, even snatching it from his teammates' feet. I've tried reaching out to him through mutual acquaintances, but to no avail. I'd love to ask him if he remembers me."
