Yacine Adli: "3 wishes? Health, happiness, and victory"

Yacine Adli spoke during the Milan Media House show 'Unlocker Room'.

Here are his statements:

Have you ever been on a podcast? Is this your first time? Have you been interviewed on many podcasts before?

"Yes, it's the first time."

What kind of child were you, Yacine Adli, what memories do you have?

"Yacine Adli is a child who grew up simply, like I think many other children. I was born in Villejuif, near Paris, I have a brother, a sister, I am the youngest. My parents always tried to give me opportunities, not to stay at home. I did many things. When I was little, my father enrolled me in Judo, I also played chess, studied solfeggio, played violin. I had many commitments and did many things, and then football came along and it quickly became my life."

Tell us a bit about Paris, Villejuif. What was it like?

"I wouldn't say that Villejuif is a ghetto, but it's a peaceful city where people live together and maybe if someone comes from outside they might say it's a bit strange, but for me, having grown up there, knowing all the people, I feel good there."

Tell us: did your parents come to France from Algeria?

"My father came to France when he was 9 years old, he was born in '65. Later, when he returned to Algeria, my mother followed him, coming to France afterwards. My father already spoke French, he was integrated, and when you arrive as a child, it's easier. For my mother, it was a bit harder, but she worked hard to learn the language, to find work. My parents immediately got on the right track to move forward together and then they had children."

I don't want to focus on football: what is your relationship with Algeria? For example, I read that you get oil from your uncle. Do you go there, have you ever been?

"Yes, I have been there, but it's been almost 12 years since I last went. I have a relationship tied to my parents, to what matters to me. My mother's entire family is there, she often goes to Algeria, it's part of our culture. We have a family of laborers, so we are simple people and we are happy with little. We have values and we know where we come from."

What is the most important lesson from your parents that you hold dear?

"To be a good person. Always have a good attitude towards everyone."

Do you have any childhood memories of vacations?

"I have very few memories of when I was little because in 2012 my family went through a difficult time, my sister had cancer, and I don't know if it stopped me but I remember very few things before that. Seeing my parents worried, the family in doubt, it had this effect on me. For us, family is too important."

What is your relationship with religion? Yacine Adli said;

"Religion is everything to me. It's what teaches me my attitude, it helps me in good times as well as in difficult times. I prefer to keep this personal, but for me, it's everything."

What is the most important number in your contacts?

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but I also have Kylian Mbappé, although I think he may have changed his number."

You have a special relationship with these two guys (Leao and Bennacer), right?

"I have a special relationship with everyone, and that's the difference. Yes, you can't say that they are just my teammates, but more than that. They all know that if anyone needs anything, I'm there, on the field or off the field, wherever."

We were very surprised by your presence in the locker room. This bond with the fans, with the teammates. Have you always been like this or...? Yacine Adli replied:

"I have always been like this, but it's part of my personality. Sometimes people might think that I do this so that people can speak well of me, but in reality, I do it because I am like this. I don't want to hide it, that's just who I am."

Tell us something about your relationship with the locker room. Fans want to know: who is the one who always comes in happy, the one who sings? Give us some juicy tidbits.

"Maybe that's why I'm part of the old school: what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. I can't tell you anything."

Of the French players in Milan's history, excluding the current three, do you know anyone personally?

"No, I saw Papin once when I played for the France U17 team. We played against Germany, I scored, and he came to watch me."

Speaking of the future, we're curious to know if you have any post-career ideas, like investments, are you putting something aside...

"No, I don't look that far ahead. If we also go back to religion, we always make the most of the moment, the present, because we don't know if we will be alive tomorrow."

What's your relationship with Instagram? Fans write to you there, do you read, or is it too overwhelming?

"I read a little, but I follow what's happening on Instagram. I make posts for post-match, so it's a calm relationship."

About the photo with Noah Okafor and Tijjani Reijnders in the mountains, which went viral among Milan fans when it was published.

"Yes, we had two days off, so we went to the mountains together. We had lunch, at first, we said 'Let's have lunch outside,' then when we took off our gloves to eat, we realized it was incredibly cold. So we went inside and found these fur coats and said, 'Come on, let's take a photo like this.' And when we went there, Tijjani gave us a gift by bringing a pair of sunglasses for everyone, so we put them on and took this photo, a nice memory."

You're a party organizer, the one who plays the most pranks too...

"Actually, the one who plays the most pranks of all is Florenzi. We joke every day."

When was the last time you cried and why?

"I don't know. Sometimes I like to cry for no reason. I like to create stories in my head, like 'What if I'm alone without children,' or 'If I don't have God with me anymore.' It's good for me. Before the match, though, I don't think about anything, I try to have fun and make the fans enjoy."

How do you spend the 24 hours before a match?

"Before, when I was younger, I was really focused on the match. It wasn't the best way for me. Now I'm calm, I don't think about it at all, I only think about it when the referee blows the whistle to start. Before the match, I have a really ordinary day, I'm in my room, I watch something on my phone, I pray, I have Arabic lessons with my teachers..."

Do you have any superstitions?

"No, none."

What have been the most incredible encounters of your career?

"My agent, with whom I have an incredible relationship. It's as if he were part of my family, I listen to him like a big brother, almost a father. Paolo Maldini, meeting him made me grow. Mike Maignan, he gave me a lot. But I think that all the people you meet are important. I don't want to be banal, but there's always something to learn from everyone you meet, so you always have to keep your eyes open and your ears ready to listen because even if sometimes you think you have nothing more to learn, there is always something. Like a person, there is also a teacher, an Islamic Sheikh who taught me many things."