How many times, on December 29, while blowing out the candles, did Davide Bartesaghi close his eyes and wish to start at San Siro wearing the Milan shirt? How many times did he wish to play in a derby? And how many times did he dream of scoring a goal under the Curva Sud at San Siro? Today, all those dreams have come true, and this year, standing in front of his birthday cake, the Milan full-back, who turns 20 today, can raise the bar of his ambitions even higher.
The surprise of the year
Now that the season has reached its halfway point, it is fair to say with confidence that Davide Bartesaghi has been the most pleasant surprise of the first half of Milan’s campaign. The full-back, born in Erba, began the season with a significant vote of confidence for a 19-year-old: the chance to be the first alternative to Pervis Estupiñán, the full-back signed from Brighton in the summer and expected to be the undisputed starter. Instead, whether due to the South American’s inconsistent form or his physical condition not always being at its best, Bartesaghi took his chances with great personality, improving steadily from match to match. After his first start at San Siro in the final game of last season at home against Monza, Bartesaghi also fulfilled his other wishes: a derby as a leading figure and his first goals with the Rossoneri first team.
Bartesaghi is AC Milan's present and future
Today, Davide Bartesaghi represents the Milan of the present. Under Allegri, the newly turned 20-year-old has become a regular starter for the Rossoneri. It is no coincidence that he is the eighth player in the squad for minutes played, with a total of 1,006. It is no coincidence either that he is a key figure for Italy’s Under-21s, and that head coach Gennaro Gattuso has recently opened the door to the senior national team. These are all rewards for the work of a humble young player eager to learn, as shown by his many post-match interviews. It is also a reward for the work of Milan’s youth sector, and in particular for the Milan Futuro project, which last season, despite relegation, helped Davide grow enormously in terms of personality and mentality on the pitch. Today Bartesaghi turns 20, and a Rossoneri-coloured future is held within his dreams and desires, December 29 after December 29, as pointed out by Milan News.
