Manuel Locatelli has spoken about his life and objectives, and assured that ‘with Gigio Donnarumma, Davide Calabria, Alessio Romagnoli, De Sciglio and I, Milan have a nice project for the next 10 years’.

It’s been nearly a month since Locatelli became the hero of the Milan fans when he scored the winning goal at Stadio San Siro against Juventus to give the Rossoneri’s three very previous points

On Sunday against Inter (20:45 CET), Locatelli – the starting regista of Milan in the age of 18 – will play in the middle of the park; and two days later, Loca, who lives in a Milan Boarding School right outside San Siro, will meet Italy national team coach Giampiero Ventura in a ‘stage’ for the next generation of the Azzurri (Lapadula was also called up for the convention).

“How do I stay with my feet on the ground? It’s thanks to my family, it’s them who keep me humble,” Locatelli said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “My father works in bank and my mother is a housewife, they’re fundamental figures. My brother plays for Unione Sportiva Inveruno in Serie D.

“As kids, we were inseparable so much that if I wasn’t on the same team with him then I wouldn’t play. And then there is my sister who has a degree in Russian. She sends me messages so beautiful that they make me cry and always repeats that I should stay down to earth. If it’s been difficult? I’ll tell you… I still feel like the boys of my generation who are in Galbiate, which is where I grew up.

“If at my age I was thinking about money and salaries, then I wouldn’t be going anywhere. Moderation is the key word? In many aspects of life, I would say yes. For example – social media. Just think about what happened to Montolivo [read the Rossoneri captain’s full interview on this subject here]. And I’m careful about how I use it, never exaggerating, because it can also be harmful.

“If I give tips to the younger guys with which I go to the Milan Boarding School? Of course, they ask me for photos and for tips. I always say that if one is strong then sooner or later the opportunity will come. The Boarding School is in a great location because it has a view of San Siro, you’re looking at the place to which you can arrive one day, because San Siro is the stadiums of dreams.

“In my case it’s a very real stadium? When I enter the Meazza I still don’t fully realize what is going on. During travel, if I feel relentless then I calm myself by thinking about my family and when I was playing with my brother in the park. If it’s not time for me to leave the Boarding School and get a house for myself? Actually, I’m just find there. I have a great relationship with the tutors and we have singles rooms and all the other guys are there… Let’s say that when I wake up and have a driver’s license in hand, maybe I’ll do the big jump [smiles embarrassed]… yeah, I haven’t done it yet, I’m a bit lazy [journalist Marco Pasotto tells him: ‘the important thing is that it is not like that on the field’].

“What do I need to improve the most on the pitch? My physicality and the management of the ball. In the Primavera it was easier but the first team is something else. My goal is to show that I can stay in this Milan. Let’s say that sometimes it happens that I look back at my two goals because I still can’t believe it… and I shudder [Locatelli scored in the 4-3 win over Sassuolo and in the 1-0 Juve win].

“If I’d have the same courage as Montella if I were my coach? I say it without being presumptuous but I would’ve made the same bet. But in the case, his management has been prudent, he first let me play a few times off the bench and then the injury of Montolivo accelerated the process.

“It was important to do it gradually. If I felt a bit embarrassed when Montolivo had to change his position when I came on during matches? No, because it was simply the game dynamics. And I’m not a person with reverential fears… Riccardo is a guide, an example and one of my models, like Pirlo.

“What Montella told me in particular? To do what I know, play simple like in training and feel comfortable. Galliani compared me to Rivera while Berlusconi called me the new Pirlo? Berlusconi surprised me lot. When I was in the Primavera [in 2014, see the video below], Berlusconi came and stood in front of me saying: ‘I’ve heard of you and I hear you are very good’. At first it was all like a dream but now I’m starting to realize what is happening. I also know that I’m bound to make mistakes. Against Juventus, for example… all they talked about was my goal but I also lost some bad balls. Those are things that I’m going to review to understand where I went wrong.

“Ventura just called me up for the upcoming ‘stage’ [for Italy’s next generation]? I’m happy, but I take it one step at a time. I’m playing with the U19 side and it’s fine [he was also with the U21 team once]. I didn’t expect anything from Ventura, I’m thinking of the present and staying down to earth.

“I was born on January 8th 1998, which is the same day of the Milan 5-0 Inter in the Coppa Italia? I trust that it’s a good sign. I already scored against Inter when I was in the Giovanissimi, I stopped the ball on the chest and scored from outside the box. Who would I remove from the Nerazzurri? Icardi. This Inter is difficult to study because they changed the coach. But the issue is really only one: we have to play our own game. Montella is great in preparing to this kind of challenges.

“A slogan for this derby? The Italian Milan against the Foreign Inter. The young and Italian project is very nice and we have to say thanks to Berlusconi and Galliani. The secret of our youth is in the people, there are top leaders and there are key figures like Filippo Galli and Walter De Vecchi.

“De Vecchi [a former Milan player] is a coach who taught me so much. What do the names Davide Calabria, Donnarumma, Romagnoli and Mattia De Sciglio tell me when put together? It tells me that with us Milan have a nice project for the next 10 years and something important is coming out.

“The next names to keep an eye on in the Primavera? I’d bet on Vido, Cutrone, Zanellato and El Hilali. Donnarumma and I have things in common? We met in the Allievi and we are true friends. He’s a phenomenon. We work together and always joke around and it’s true that we have many points in common. It doesn’t apply to music… when he blasts his Neapolitan songs I put on my headphones.

“The sacrifices I had to make? When I went to High School, life was complicated. I used to eat in the car before going to the field and in the evening I studied on the way home. Unless you have the mindset, it’s very tough. Either way I’m fine with the 64 I finished accounting with (laughs). If I wasn’t a footballer, then what would I do? I have a passion for detective stories, so a private investigator.

“And now that I’m a player, what my objectives are? Personally, to continue like this. As a team, to go back to Europe,” concluded Locatelli, who will try to steal the headlines again on Sunday night.