Legendary Rossoneri midfielder Ruud Gullit believes compatriot Joshua Zirkzee should have made the move to Milan, rather than Manchester United, this summer. Speaking in a lengthy interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gullit explained why a move to Milan would have been better for the young Dutch forward, while also explaining why he believes the Rossoneri could win the title this season:
How is Serie A viewed from abroad?
“An interesting championship that is regaining its appeal. In recent years it has gone through a difficult time and the champions, who in my time all wanted to come to Italy, have started to prefer England and Spain. Now this trend is changing: your tournament fascinates top players again.”
Just to corroborate your theory, Alvaro Morata has made the move to Milan
“Morata is a great acquisition, a striker who knows how to score goals, but whom teammates must put in a position to be able to hurt. He always gives his contribution because he roams across the entire attacking front and opens up spaces. Someone like that is always useful and can solve many problems.”
And to think that instead of Morata there could have been Zirkzee, who for a long time, was the Rossoneri’s first choice.
“Zirkzee would have done better to say yes to Milan instead of moving to Manchester United in England. He knew Serie A and for his development, another couple of seasons in this tournament would have been very useful to him, but in a top club like Milan. Now instead, he is in a club that has many problems and that does not facilitate his growth.”
His numbers indeed are not exciting: eight appearances and one goal.
“I hope he manages to reverse the trend after an inevitable period of settling in. He’s good, no doubt about that, but at United it’s hard to do well in such a tough moment.”
Another of his compatriots, Tijjani Reijnders, chose Milan in 2023 and hasn’t regretted it.
“I had seen him a few years ago in Az Alkmaar’s second team and, even though his quality was noticeable, I wasn’t sure he would become the player he is now. Last season in red and black he had an incredible growth, in terms of personality and performance, and then he played a great European Championship with the Netherlands. He is a key element for Milan and for the national team.”
Speaking of Milan, did you celebrate the victory in the derby?
“Of course. The red and black colors have remained in my heart. The success against Inter was deserved because in the second half, Fonseca’s team came out with character and imposed its game.”
Do you like Fonseca?
“His is an… ambitious football: you achieve certain results more easily with play and he is focusing on that. It takes a bit of time to transmit his ideas to the team, but the road seems to be the right one as evidenced by the three consecutive victories in the league.”
Can Milan win the Scudetto?
“I speak as a fan and say yes. That said, I don’t think it’s right to put pressure on this group that in the last two summers has changed almost two-thirds of the squad, in addition to the coach, who has a different way of playing compared to his predecessor (Pioli, ed).”
Even the start wasn’t encouraging…
“Two draws and a defeat in the first three rounds certainly didn’t represent Milan’s value. The last three successes in Serie A have put things right, even if the team is still in a growth phase: they must work day by day, because the margins for improvement are considerable, especially in the defensive phase.”
In terms of the Scudetto, which is the most formidable opponent for the Rossoneri?
“I’ll make a premise: it is positive that the hegemony that Juventus had until a few years ago has been interrupted. Juventus fans certainly preferred what happened until 2019-20 (nine consecutive Scudetti, ed), but as an outside spectator and as a football enthusiast I have no doubt in stating that now, Serie A is more balanced and interesting. It’s no coincidence that in the last four seasons the Scudetto has gone to three different teams (twice to Inter, once to Milan and Napoli, ed).”
Let’s go back to your prediction.
“The Nerazzurri lost the derby, but they are the Italian champions and won the last Scudetto with an important margin of advantage over the competition. It seems to me that Inzaghi has a squad further strengthened by the summer transfer campaign and that he continues to make his team play good football. Watch out though for Napoli and Juventus. With Conte, the Azzurri have regained the winning mentality that allowed them to win the championship with Spalletti and moreover they won’t spend physical and nervous energy in European cups: in the long run it can be a nice advantage. Motta has brought a breath of enthusiasm to Turin and the club has given him a hand with an important summer transfer campaign.”
Among the new Bianconeri arrivals is your compatriot Koopmeiners,who cost €60m. A great coup…
“For him it is undoubtedly an important step forward that he deserved for the performance he had in these seasons at Atalanta. He is a ‘total’ midfielder, one of those who know how to do everything. I read that he had offers from abroad, but he did well to stay in Italy and choose a club where he can further grow and improve. I have only one regret: if he hadn’t been injured and the Netherlands had had him at the European Championship, they probably would have reached the final and maybe…”
Let’s move on to the Champions League where things are going worse for Milan.
“The new Champions League has a different formula compared to the past and, with eight matches in the first phase, gives the possibility to come back. Milan’s calendar was objectively complicated because finding Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund in front of you, for a team that has been working together for less than three months, is not the best.
At this moment it’s Juventus, Inter and Atalanta keeping the Italian flag high.
“I hope that your teams all pass the round or at least reach the playoffs. In the last two years Inter, Atalanta, Roma and Fiorentina have reached the finals of the three European competitions. It’s an important signal, certainly not to be overlooked: your teams are working well and maybe this season they will also get some satisfaction.”
Let’s close with Ibrahimovic: do you like him in the executive version?
“Very much. I’ve known him for several years, since he was young and played in the Netherlands (with Ajax, ed). Ibra was a player different from others and now he is a person… different from others. He is not conventional in the way he communicates, but certainly his attitudes help to take pressure off the team. He never does anything by chance and his press conferences are not boring.”
So according to you Ibra should remain… Ibra even as an executive?
“Without a doubt. The football world needs him as he is. Indeed, we would need more Ibrahimovics… Especially because he is competent and recognizes talent at first sight: few in football history have had as much as him. I am convinced that he will do a good job at Milan: as a player he always wanted to win and now I don’t think he has changed his mentality. On the contrary…”
