Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder who has become a leader for AC Milan, recently opened up about his life in Milan, his family, and his son Xavién in an interview with Milan TV.
On life in Milan, Reijnders shared, “Now I truly consider it home. For about a year, when we’re in the Netherlands and I tell my wife Marina to go home, I mean here in Milan. I feel very comfortable. Friends and family can visit us easily since the flight is only an hour and a half. Life is good in Italy, especially the food. If I go downtown, of course there are fans who ask for photos, but it’s not something over the top.”
Discussing his multicultural background, Reijnders explained, “My mother is Indonesian and my father is Dutch. My siblings and I are a mix. My son Xavién is an incredible mix because my wife is from Iraq. As a child, I had Indonesian and Dutch influences which shaped me into who I am today. From Dutch culture, I learned to stay grounded, and from the Indonesian side, to be very proud of what you do and achieve.”
Reijnders also touched on the value of money and his first job experience. “When I signed my first contract with AZ, my parents told me I could spend all the money if I wanted. Money makes life easier, but in the end, the most important thing is being healthy and helping others,” he said.
On the differences between Italy and the Netherlands, Reijnders noted, “In the Netherlands, you go out for dinner at 6 or 6:30 PM. Here, at that time, restaurants are closed, and the ones we want to eat at open after 7 PM. For us with Xavien, it’s already late. In the Netherlands, we cut pasta. Once at Milanello, I put chicken in pasta, and Florenzi told me that’s not normal here.”
Reijnders spoke warmly about his son Xavién: “Since he arrived, my life has changed a lot. Before, I’d come home after a lost match and think about it. Now I come back and forget many things because I see him, who is the most important thing in the world. If he were to play football, I’d want to be his coach. Whatever he wants to do, the most important thing is that he enjoys it.”
The midfielder also shared insights about his football shirt collection, mentioning jerseys from teammates, Dutch players at Liverpool, and opponents like Dumfries from Inter and Mbappé from PSG.
Finally, Reijnders spoke about his brother Eliano: “He’s my best friend, we share everything and talk every day. Now he plays for the Indonesian National Team, and I’m very proud of him. Since we were little, we’ve always played football together.”
