‘Only one Italian starter’ – Costacurta believes Milan lack homegrown players

Former AC Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta believes that there’s a lack of Italians within the present squad which is hurting them.

Costacurta spent over 20 years with Milan from 1986 and 2007 and the one time he spent away was a season-long spell on mortgage at Monza early in his profession. He fashioned probably the greatest defensive traces ever with Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Mauro Tassotti.

The Italian gained seven Serie A titles and 5 Champions League/European Cup trophies all through his profession, together with many different main honours. Merely put, he is aware of what it takes to win with the Rossoneri.

He additionally performed into his 40s, even scoring a penalty in his last recreation to change into the oldest goalscorer in Serie A on the age of 41, a file that was damaged by Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Milan lack Italian affect

Costacurta gave an interview to Il Giornale (through MilanPress) during which he spoke about his time at Milan and likewise in contrast it to the present period, in which there’s a lot much less of an Azzurri affect.

You by no means left Milan…

“At thirty-five I had a suggestion from an American workforce. It was a possibility. I refused it. Why? Everybody mentioned: effectively finished, you had been nice, you’re hooked up to Milan, your complete profession to Milan, in actuality I wished to remain in my Milan, with my associates, with my household, my girlfriend, my teammates: my consolation zone.”

Do you remorse it?

“Sure. It’s a remorse of mine. I’d have had an necessary expertise, I’d be a unique individual from what I’m. Perhaps higher.

You gained two Champions Leagues after…

“Successful 5 or successful three doesn’t make a lot distinction.”

Did you are feeling necessary?

“I felt extra necessary once I saved a objective and helped the workforce win.”

Is it true that the mentality in soccer has modified?

“I performed with 15 Italians and we had been the strongest workforce on this planet. At present it appears to me that Milan has just one Italian starter: Gabbia.”

What was Sacchi like?

“Arrigo Sacchi was the Leonardo of the renaissance of Italian soccer.”

And Silvio Berlusconi?

“I’ve solely had one president. Extraordinary. Berlusconi transmitted ambition to us. He arrived at a Milan that had been doing badly for years. The very first thing he informed us was: I would like you to change into the strongest workforce on this planet. We thought he was loopy.

“Then Sacchi arrived and informed us: ‘We’ll change into the strongest workforce on this planet’. And we thought: two loopy folks. Then lower than two years handed and we had been the strongest workforce on this planet.

“Did you perceive who Berlusconi was? He transmitted this need to us that then exploded in success. A particular man. What number of males like him have there been on earth? I believe only a few.”

Who was your instructor?

“Franco Baresi. He was an incredible instructor. For me, for Paolo Maldini, for a lot of others. [And] Fabio Capello. “