Alexandre Patoformer striker of Milanreturned to Milanello recently and talked about the emotions he felt in the podcast BSMT Of Gianluca Gazzoli: “As I went I remembered all the places. ‘I passed this way’, ‘I went that way’. I ran with the car, I competed with Emerson, the Puma, the one who played at Roma, whoever arrives first at Milanello with the car. Then Galliani called my agent telling him to ask me to stop racing (laughs, ed.) I remembered everything. The streets, all the parts of Milanello. Then I met the lady who was already working there I, who went to the room, left everything in order. The cook, the people who work there, I said to them: ‘I would like to cry, but I can’t because the room is looking at me and they make fun of me.’ But it was beautiful. I was young, I grew up there, so everything I experience in Milan gives me the shivers.”
Did you find anything different?
“Yes, some things yes. Inside the locker room especially, something more. Then in the parking lot. There’s a little something, but for me it’s always the same.”
What effect did meeting the new AC Milan players have on you?
“Some I knew only through Instagram. Then we met. I had known Morata for a long time because we spoke when I went to China, he had to come too, and so in that case we spoke. They are all new, but I knew Ruben (Loftus -Cheek, ed.) because I played with him at Chelsea. Then the others are all new.”
There are fewer Brazilians.
“I only found Emerson. When I was there there were 8 of us, today there is only one Brazilian. Football is changing, a lot.”
Do you like Leao?
“He’s a character (laughs, ed.). When I reached their age I was very small, they’re all tall. They’re too big. I’ve always had respect for Leao, I support him. He has every chance of bringing Milan to tall, so I will always be there to support him and let’s hope he scores many more goals for Milan and makes them win.”
What effect did returning to San Siro have on you?
“They let me enter the pitch, it makes you want to cry. The fans screaming at you, asking you for a photo… Then having my parents next to me, they stayed with me for a month then left. They came back with me after 12 years at San Siro. So you know, it was beautiful for them. Apart from the cold, which they couldn’t feel their feet anymore, but it was beautiful.”
Did you want to come in and play?
“I’ll tell you something. I asked Kaká for advice: ‘Ricky, what did you do when you stopped playing?’. He told me: ‘So I’m fine’. Sometimes I don’t want to be the one who wants to come back for strength to Milan, but I want to put on the shirt, get on the pitch and play…”.
Do you think he could take the field and have his say?
“I have to get back into shape. The desire is there, let’s see…”.