Interviewed by the journalists of La Gazzetta dello Sport on the eve of a crucial match like the one in Naples against Antonio Conte’s side, AC Milan full-back Davide Bartesaghi spoke not only about tomorrow’s opponents, but also about the Scudetto dream and his formative experience with Milan Futuro.
Davide, has playing with the Under-21s given you an extra push for the end of the season?
“At Milan, I’ve already received more than I ever expected to ask for. I’m happy and fortunate: I have the trust of the manager, the staff, and my teammates.”
What is the main lesson you’ve learned in this breakthrough season with the Rossoneri?
“I owe everything to Massimiliano Allegri and his staff. They’ve given me confidence and helped me adapt to multiple roles. I like playing where I’m being used now, as a wing-back, a role I work very hard on. In the future, I also see myself in a back three: I’ve understood that versatility is an added value.”
Along with the other defenders, he has been one of the key figures behind the team’s renewed solidity. What does “Max” ask of you?
"A lot of hard work. Last season’s defensive numbers obviously weren’t good, and the manager immediately asked us to fix that as a priority. His instructions are simple, just like football itself: don’t concede and score goals, as he often says. If you work consistently every day and follow what the manager asks, you keep adding one brick on top of another.”
You said you’ve received more than you expected. What were you expecting?
“To improve day by day. I’ve met a top coach and a great person. Allegri has always told me to stay calm. The staff support me, and there’s a strong sense of trust with them. I knew I had an opportunity to seize, and that my moment could come.”
Before that, you had to compete with Pervis Estupiñán.
“He’s a very good player. I congratulated him after his great goal in the derby. We’re teammates, not rivals. The healthier the group, the further it can go. Ours is. There’s a really positive energy.”
Which teammates guide you the most?
"Matteo Gabbia first of all. I spend a lot of time with him, we do many things together. On the pitch, also Mike Maignan, who is our leader. Adrien Rabiot talks to me a lot. Luka Modrić leads more by example than by words…"
He smiles. Luka may not be very talkative, but his presence alone sets an example. Speaking of that: did you expect to find yourself in the same team as Modrić, considering that just a year ago you were in Serie C with Milan Futuro?
“It’s been a hugely important path. After playing in the Primavera, many young players risk getting lost. Without the Under-23 team, I might have had to change club and city, and I might not have settled well, needing to move again and again. The environment elsewhere is different, inevitably. With Milan Futuro it was tough at first, but it turned out to be a decisive step. The club’s project is to develop young players, and you can do that there: it’s not Serie A, but it’s not Primavera either. You play in intense environments, against experienced players, and the pressure increases.”
Yet Milan Futuro’s results haven’t exactly been brilliant... Bartesaghi commented:
"That’s true, it was a difficult year in terms of results, but very useful for work and growth, both as a professional and as a person. Without that experience, I probably wouldn’t be the player or the person I am today. If I had left, I wouldn’t be who I am now."
So, from a young player’s perspective: are second teams useful for developing academy talent?
"As far as I’m concerned, absolutely. The club has made a major investment. Almost all of us Milan youngsters have gone through it, and in the future we might find ourselves here together, in the first team."
You probably didn’t expect to be here at the start of April, preparing for a top-table clash against Napoli. It could secure second place and confirm your status as Inter’s closest challengers. Are you ready?
"It’s one of our most important matches, crucial for the end of the season. We’ll prepare for it with all the focus it deserves. There will be emotion, but also great awareness: we’re a strong team, and every opponent is within our reach," said Bartesaghi, as relayed via Milan News.
