Bonucci: ‘Kessie gave me 19’

By Football Italia staff

Leonardo Bonucci confirms he’ll wear number 19 for Milan next season, having spoken to Franck Kessié.

Both players favour that particular number, and there was speculation that there could be a minor clash over who gets to wear it for the coming season.

“I went on tiptoes, I talked to Kessié and we agreed,” Bonucci explained on social networking site Weibo.

“I thank him, he’s a smart and sensitive lad, he’s a great investment for this club. For me 19 is an important number, I relied on it in difficult moments in my personal life and my career, so thank you again.

“The fans warmth has given me so much enthusiasm, I hope to give them a lot of victories down the years. Milan deserve to do better in Italy and Europe.”

It was also confirmed that Kessié will instead wear number 79.

“There’s no need for a presentation for Leo,” CEO Marco Fassone said.

“For us he’s an extraordinarily strong reinforcement, born out of an almost impossible idea and developed with some chats by Mirabelli.

“I have to be honest, in our first phone call Leo told me ‘nothing is impossible’ and from that moment on things proceeded fairly quickly.

“I’d like to thank Kessié for his availability, on behalf of the club.”

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