On the occasion of his new book's presentation "Almanacco 2021-2022 del Grand Hotel Calciomercato", Sky Sport journalist and transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio granted an interview to the microphones of Milannews.it:
On Junior Messias and Marco Asensio:
"There was a moment in the last days of the transfer market when Real Madrid gave an opening, perhaps because they were thinking of signing Mbappé. Regardless, despite the opening of Real Madrid, the boy preferred to stay there. It wasn't a no to Milan, he didn't go anywhere else. He preferred to continue playing his cards there, but Real Madrid had actually given an opening just as Atalanta had given an opening for Miranchuk at figures that AC Milan evidently judged too high."
"But as I say in the book obviously Messias, who to date has not yet been able to demonstrate his qualities due to the injury he had, it seems almost a sign of destiny that he could become a Milan player because Paolo Maldini went to see him in Pro Sesto-Chieri many years ago", said Di Marzio, "Paolo's son had signed in those days for Pro Sesto and in the field there was Messias himself with Chieri: in the book a particular episode is told that concerns Maldini and makes it clear how he had known Messias for a long time and how Milan then have Messias wanted so much."
"There have been many talks with Stroppa, with Cosmi, with Crotone. It was not an operation from the last day but an operation that AC Milan have tried to plan over time, having to convince the owners as well, because ownership usually prefers to invest in younger players."
Di Marzio on Kessié's renewal:
"Today, it is a negative because there is so much distance. AC Milan offer 6 million euros with bonuses, but kessié's entourage want 9 million plus bonus. Then we are still in November. We have seen how many renewals, especially in recent years, are also resolved in the final months, so there is plenty of time for Kessie to come to his senses (laughs). Then anyway it depends, there will be other teams in Europe who will give him that money and if he makes an economic choice he will have decided for that. But I think that what Milan offers him is important, at Milan he is an important player beyond the money. If I were him I would think about it."
About Donnarumma, in your book you talk about Juventus and the idea of an exchange with Szczesny...
"At that moment Juventus would have liked not to 'steal' the player from Milan, and if Milan had agreed to make an exchange, the Rossoneri would have first renewed Donnarumma's contract. But Milan has never been determined to do such an operation, because as Massara and Maldini immediately told Paratici on that occasion, it was April, meanwhile they always hoped to be able to renew Gigio's contract. But in any case they would have chosen their goalkeeper of the future. And then they did it, they took Maignan, deciding the timing for them: before the match in Bergamo, Milan said enough", said Di Marzio, "They could not wait any longer and also risk not taking Maignan on which Roma had joined and there were also other clubs that wanted him. In the end, Milan decided: a club that enforces its principles in an absolutely respectable manner. They are doing it with Kessié now too. He makes very high offers, if the players don't want to accept, you can call yourself Donnarumma, you can call yourself Kessie, you can call yourself anyone, but Milan goes beyond certain players even if they are champions."
