AC Milan's loanee at Atalanta, Charles De Ketelaere has granted an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The 22-year-old player has already scored one goal and provided one assist to his name after three league games. Here are his words:
"When you arrive in a new place, there's a lot to do. Adapt to the country, to the playing system, to the language. But of course, if it didn't work out at Milan, it was partly my fault too: it wasn't the season I expected, but I don't regret it."
De Ketelaere continued to talk about his experience at AC Milan:
"I haven't always reached a high level, and coming on as a substitute as often happened to me didn't help. I'm not an explosive type, I feel better when I'm on the field for a longer period of time and can really get into the flow of a game. The criticisms did the rest: I don't always read the newspapers, I try to isolate myself. But still, you hear them and you're not indifferent. Never scoring was a problem: people ask for goals and assists, they don't just look at the performance."
Did AC Milan suggest that you leave?
"Partly yes. But I also knew I would have had little space. Throughout the summer, there were market negotiations. I wondered, 'Do I wait for my chance, even if it means playing a little less? Or do I go to another team to test myself?'. The second option made me feel better. Atalanta even more."
De Ketelaere on his ambition at Atalanta:
"I want to showcase myself in the club. It's not that I didn't want to go to PSV or other teams, I simply wanted Atalanta. Here I'm playing higher up, closer to the goal: this way I can become the best version of myself again. Last year, I was an attacking midfielder."
On AC Milan again:
"There I learned a lot, tactically I have more experience. Overall, I know I've become a better player."
