Tijjani Reijnders, AC Milan's midfieldeer, spoke at length in an interview with Voetbal International this morning. Here are the key points:
Regarding his choice of Milan over Barcelona in the summer:
"Aspects related to football were crucial in my choice. I wanted to go to a significant competition, but that wasn't the only criterion. The role that Barcelona had in mind was less suited to my characteristics. My strength lies in the offensive midfield and shuttling back and forth. And in terms of club size, Milan and Barcelona are in the same category."
On the emotion of playing for Milan:
"I put on the shirt and thought: Wow, I'm really playing for Milan now. I'm living my dream. That's really how I see it. As a kid, I dreamed of a life as a professional footballer. Preferably in a top international club, including the Dutch national team. And now I'm here, a player for Milan and the Netherlands",said Reijnders.
Regarding his emotions playing for Milan:
"I put on the shirt and thought, 'Wow, now I really play for Milan.' I'm living my dream. That's really how I see it. As a kid, I dreamed of a life as a professional footballer. Preferably in a top international club, including the Dutch national team. And now I'm here, a player for Milan and the Netherlands."
On his adaptation, Reijnders said:
"Right after signing, we went to the United States for the preseason, which was a great way to get to know everyone. I think going further in the Conference League with AZ also made a difference. Obviously, in a top club like Milan, you always have to prove yourself, but I didn't think there were doubts or anything about me, and I immediately felt welcome like other new arrivals."
On the teammates he's getting along with:
"Ruben Loftus-Cheek and I quickly gravitated towards each other, with the advantage of being able to speak English. I get along well with Christian Pulisic, with Malick Thiaw, with many guys, actually."
His thoughts on his position on the field, the reason he chose Milan, Reijnders said:
"Speaking with Pioli, I discovered that the club had been following me all year, and the coach knew exactly what I could add to the team. He was also very clear about my role as an attacking midfielder. Pioli is an offensive-minded coach; a lot of his training material focuses on football solutions and how to break free from pressure. That also really attracted me. Milan is a huge club in a great competition, aiming to dominate games."
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