'No third place limit for Milan'

By Football Italia staff

Alessio Romagnoli believes 'third place' would be a limit for his highly renovated Milan team and targets the Azzurri.

Among the players who best represent the Rossoneri's new Italian core there is the former Roma player.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he traced the early stages of his career in the capital and remembered Coach Zdenek Zeman, who gave him his first start.

“Zeman was always very attentive to young players,” he said.

“Maybe he foresaw in me the things that I'm showing now.

“[Milan Coach Sinisa] Mihajlovic didn't have to work very hard to convince me [to come to Milan]. He just had to text me.

“I probably wouldn't have stayed with Roma even if [Coach Rudi] Garcia had promised me a starter's shirt.

“Besides promises don't mean anything, it's the facts that matter.”

Some feel that Romagnoli, at 20, is a bit too young to be handed such an important opportunity, but he brushed the notion aside.

“For a career boost there's no such thing as the right age. When it comes, it comes.

“And if you feel that you are strong, you have to prove that, with no fear.

“People are expecting a lot from me, I know that.”

Romagnoli was then asked whether Milan would content themselves with third place in Serie A.

“Let's wait and see. It's early to set ourselves any limits. We'll talk about it again in January.

“Comparisons between me and Juventus' Daniele Rugani? We're different footballers but we play in the same role, so choose for yourselves.

“Juventus on the whole still have something extra compared to us, it's no wonder they've been winning for four years.

“They're still one step ahead in spite of the departures of [Andrea] Pirlo, [Carlos] Tevez and [Arturo] Vidal.

“Milan are right after them, alongside Roma, Inter, Napoli, Lazio and Fiorentina.

“Starting out well is going to be fundamental, because after our first two games against Fiorentina and Empoli we'll be facing Inter.

“The game against Empoli is going to be an exam for the whole team. We changed a lot, last year you could tell something was wrong.

“Now we must take Milan back up there.

“Not allowing goals is important, but only if you score many at the same time. You can't pick up many points with 0-0 scores.

“The secret is having a team that is complete in all departments, and Milan has that.”

Romagnoli was asked who the strongest striker in Serie A will be.

“[Napoli's Gonzalo] Higuain. But I'm curious to see [Roma's Edin] Dzeko.

“[Sampdoria's Roberto] Soriano would be a great boost for us, because he can play on the wing and as a playmaker.

“He has good vision and he'd be a solid buy.”

Finally, the discussion turned towards Coach Antonio Conte and the prospect of being called up for La Nazionale.

“I already spoke with Conte when he came to see us at the U-21 Euro tournaments.

“For the moment I still have to think about the Azzurrini, but I dream of making it into the national team.”

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow