The young AC Milan goalkeeper Lorenzo Torriani, class of 2005, was the protagonist of the new episode of Homegrown, the Milan TV format dedicated to young talents from the Rossoneri youth sector. The shot-stopper earned a spot in the first team thanks to an excellent American tour and also had the chance to take the field this year in the final minutes of the Champions League match against Liverpool (his absolute debut in the Rossoneri shirt) and in the second half of the Coppa Italia round of 16 against Sassuolo. He also played six matches with Milan Futuro.
These were his statements, as relayed via Milannews.it
The first Rossonero memory?
"I started very early, at the age of almost 5, with my hometown team, FC Cologno. Then Milan called me right away: I remember it was a tournament organized by Cologno, and there was this Milan scout who went to my father and told him they were very interested in me. My father was all excited, he couldn't believe it: I was very small, and we all know what football is like at that age."
How much of your growth is Rossonero?
"A lot. As I said before, I literally grew up in Milan and I only played for Milan."
Which first-team goalkeeper left an impression on you or did you discover?
"Being with Mike Maignan is like having a coach who trains alongside you. He explains certain things, both off the pitch and on the pitch, which are very important for someone who’s getting used to this level. Even today he keeps teaching me a lot and has given me a lot of advice."
Is there unity among the goalkeepers in the group? Is it a team within the team?
"Exactly, the goalkeeper is almost a role apart and is very alone compared to the team. Among us colleagues, this kind of unity is very important. I’ve always had a great relationship with both Noah Raveyre and Lapo Nava, who was one of the first, after the penalties against Barcelona, to come toward me and congratulate me: I think it's a beautiful thing, that there isn’t competition but there is friendship, almost brotherhood."
Is the goalkeeper role more psychological than technical? Give a percentage...
"In my opinion, 70% mental and 30% technical. If a goalkeeper doesn’t have the right mindset during the ninety minutes — because anything can happen at any moment — I think he can’t reach certain levels."
You’re the goalkeeper who has grown the most this past year but have played little. How did you experience it? Torriani answered:
"It’s very tough and difficult. I came from almost a year and a half without playing due to injuries and decisions that I had to respect. I think the mental aspect was crucial for me: I worked and kept working, I knew this moment would come sooner or later. In the end, I was right."
Last season as a starter with the U17s with Mattia Malaspina, Kevin Zeroli, Vincenzo Perrucci...
"We were a great group, with people I had known for many years and that was a positive side within the team: in fact, we reached the championship semifinals, then unfortunately it ended how it ended."
Feelings about the first benches with Stefano Pioli? Torriani commented:
"It all started with various training sessions with the first team, where I was filling a gap. Before a Milan-Genoa match, coach Ragno called me with a huge smile and told me I had to go do the video session. In my head I was saying, damn, is this really happening? My first call-up at San Siro. And for someone like me: born in Milan, Milan fan all my life. I mean, a huge emotion. I did the video session with the whole team and then the actual call-up to San Siro arrived."
Did anyone say anything to you during those days?
"I think it was Lapo Nava who already knew beforehand but didn’t want to tell me. He saw me in the video session area and said: 'Wait, what are you doing here?' (laughs)."
About the trust earned during the American tour: what was the turning point?
"The turning point was the training camp here at Milanello. In the first sessions I tried to stand out with coach Fonseca, who then gave me a lot of trust — which is not something simple."
About the first match in America against Erling Haaland...
"I found myself facing a giant of almost two meters — seeing him live is amazing: I had only seen him on PlayStation. In person he’s way bigger than they say. It was truly beautiful, a unique situation. Then playing in a big stadium, with almost 60,000 spectators — for someone like me, used to the youth sector..."
Second match, the main protagonist: MVP with two saved penalties against Barça. In the post-match interview you were calm...
"Deep down, there was more going on (laughs). I’ve always been a pretty calm person — I think you can see that on the pitch. Also because I had to earn everything: if I had played with pressure, maybe I wouldn’t have done so well. One of my strong points is exactly that: staying calm and enjoying the moment."
And then the third friendly, a win, against Real Madrid... Torriani commented:
"They had Endrick, there was Arda Güler and Modrić. For me, seeing these champions in front of me was like a dream. Maybe that was the best moment, but also after the match when I managed to meet Courtois — he’s one of my biggest idols and one of the best goalkeepers around. I managed to swap shirts and have a chat: it was really great."
Absolute debut against Liverpool in the Champions League: what did you feel?
"A lot of emotions, especially because it was clear from the first half that Mike wasn’t well and I kept warming up. I was telling myself I wasn’t going to come on anyway, then I turned toward the bench and saw I was the only one there because Marco was injured — and I told myself: 'Damn, do I really have to go in?!' In the Champions League, against Liverpool: and then it happened. I remember the ovation from San Siro at my debut, it really gave me goosebumps: when San Siro screams, you feel it, you really feel it."
What growth did Serie C give you? Torriani said:
"Many people underestimate it a bit, but especially for us young players, it's very formative: you play against people with a lot of experience in various leagues and for a young player it’s not easy. It’s a different kind of football — more aggressive and less technical. Milan Futuro? I think it's fundamental: it’s not the Primavera but not yet the First Team. It gives you a lot of experience and, as I said before, it’s another kind of football."
What message do you send to young kids who play as goalkeepers?
"Believe in it until the end, work hard: there will be falls, but the important thing is to get back up — and most of all, to believe, believe. If you work hard, sooner or later it will pay off."
