AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders, spoke to rivistaundici in an exclusive interview. Among the many topics discussed, the Dutchman started with his improvement in terms of finishing in front of goal.
Here's what he said:
"I’ve worked on this aspect," he says. "Last year, I had many opportunities but lacked composure in front of goal. Now the goals are coming, and I hope to keep it up until the end of the season." This is a very positive moment for me, but I try not to pay attention to outside noise and focus on what I need to do."
On playing for Milan:
"Playing here is one of my biggest dreams come true. This club is one of the greatest in the world. Being here fills me with joy and pride. The warmth I feel from the club is wonderful, it makes me go to Milanello every day with a big smile."
On joining Milan:
"It’s thanks to that season with AZ when we reached the Conference League semifinals. That’s when I started getting noticed, and Milan came calling. I remember telling my father: this is the club I want. Milan’s history also played a big role in my decision; it was one of the first things I thought of many legends have passed through here: Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard… players with legendary status. For me, it’s extraordinary to play for the same club."
Reijnders added:
"I waited a long time for this breakthrough. I thought I’d move to a top Dutch club from AZ before going abroad. In the end, when Milan came, we decided to skip the intermediate step."
On playing and winning against Real Madrid:
"It was the perfect night," he says dreamily. "That, and the derby win against Inter. Just thinking about those moments fills me with joy."
Recalling that evening against Real Madrid, Reijnders says:
"We were eagerly waiting for that match. It was important because we had to win. It was a magical evening: we demonstrated our strength, and it helped us build our confidence. I hope to experience nights like that again."
On his growth:
"But for me, there's always room for improvement," he says. "I always review matches to understand what went well and what I can do better."
The impact of Serie A on him shouldn’t be underestimated. Reijnders seemed ready for Italian football from the very start, which is never a given.
"Of course, it's always tough in the beginning," he acknowledges. "Fortunately, I received a lot of trust from the coach and my teammates last year, which helped me adapt more quickly. In Italy, I’ve learned that many teams play man-to-man, it’s a very competitive league where every match is difficult. If you're not focused, you get punished. There's also much more attention to match preparation compared to what I was used to in the Netherlands."
Reijnders role has also evolved...
"Now I play much more in the opposition's third, and I think this is the position that suits me best. With the Dutch national team, I sometimes play as a number ten, which gives me plenty of room for creative plays. Now with Fofana playing as a six, I have more space to move between defence and attack. Yes, I've always had my own playing style. My inspiration? Kevin De Bruyne. I’ve followed him a lot, watched tons of his videos when I was younger. He’s kind of the blueprint for my style of play – a box-to-box midfielder who initiates the build-up and contributes to finishing."
Today, with Milan firmly on his mind and a contract renewal seemingly imminent, he doesn’t forget the life lessons from his family....
"My father always says: never let it go to your head, stay humble. Never look down on anyone, never feel better than someone else. It's a concept that means a lot to me and one I think is very important: what matters is being normal, staying true to yourself."
His job as a cashier in a supermarket during his teenage years perfectly embodies the Reijnders family philosophy – an experience the footballer has described in the past as highly formative. Being as far from the star-footballer stereotype as possible is a trait that has taken him far, even if it seemed like a hindrance at first:
"Perhaps in the past, I could have been bolder, made myself noticed more," he admits. "Because I waited a really long time before getting a big opportunity. But in the end, everything is planned, and maybe waiting a bit longer worked out better for me."
Football, after all, is serious business in his family. His father Martin, now his agent, was a professional player with stints in the Netherlands and Finland. And Tijjani’s name itself is a tribute to another footballer: Babangida, who played for Ajax in the late 1990s.
"The first time with a ball at my feet? I played in the backyard, kicking it all over the place… Sometimes I’d even play indoors and end up breaking things! My brother (Eliano, who now plays for PEC Zwolle) and I always dreamed of becoming professional footballers. Now that we both are, we’re very proud."
For both brothers, their father had devised a kind of challenge at the start of their careers:
"When I made it to the first team at AZ, my father told me: you have to make your presence felt on the pitch. For every two shots on goal, he’d give me €50, but if I didn’t manage it, I had to give him €50. In the end, I always managed, so he said: 'You’re costing me too much...'"
Another lesson: consistency pays off. Reijnders concluded:
"Keep working, always. That’s the lesson I’ve learned. It might sound obvious, but it’s only through hard work that you improve."
