Jan-Carlo Simicformer Milan defender, who moved to Anderlecht in the last transfer window, in a long interview given to La Gazzetta dello Sport he also told of the call from Milan in the summer of 2022: “I was 17 years old, I was in Stuttgart, the phone rang. My father looked at me strangely. I asked him who it was, and he replied that on the other end there was … Milan. It was Paolo Maldini. I was in disbelief. Maldini, you understand? I grew up with his videos and his plays.
In the summer, however, Simic said goodbye to the Devil and moved to Belgium: “Leaving Milan wasn’t easy, I won’t deny it. The first time I set foot in Milanello I was 17 years old. When Maldini called me I didn’t want to believe it. It was a dream, an emotion. Imagine a teenager who meet on the phone with a legend, on an exercise bike. I have no regrets about saying goodbye. Here is a project for me.
Anderlecht wasn’t the only team wanting Simic. “In January 2024, between Serie A and foreign leagues, dozens of clubs looked for me. And the same thing in summer. I won’t name names – continues the former Rossoneri player – but they were all important. When I saw Anderlecht’s project, however, I had no doubts. I play all the matches here and am one of the starters of a young team. Everything is designed to become even stronger. Leaving Milan wasn’t easy, I won’t deny it. The first time I set foot in Milanello I was 17 years old. When Maldini called me I didn’t want to believe it. It was a dream, an emotion. Imagine a teenager who finds himself on the phone with a legend, on an exercise bike. But I have no regrets about saying goodbye. There’s a project here for me.”