Giroud admits he was close to joining Inter before Milan: “One step away”

Olivier Giroud is loved by AC Milan fans for several reasons, but the story could’ve been much different if fate hadn’t got involved.

There are very few players from recent years held in the same regard as Giroud. He was the only striker to provide consistent goals for Milan and as a Scudetto winner, he remains one of the most loved players from the 2020s (if not beyond).

The Frenchman was heading towards the end of his career when he signed, but it didn’t matter. A scorer of several important goals across multiple years, he is still referred to when looking at recent icons of the Rossoneri.

He could still play a role in the team too, with 11 goal contributions in Ligue 1 since his return to France last season.

How Giroud’s story could’ve been different

Speaking to L’Equipe on his 40th birthday, the forward has also looked at how the story could’ve been different and MilanNews have relayed his words.

“I didn’t even read criticism! I’m not one to give too much weight to what’s said, and that’s what I try to teach the younger players. You have to protect yourself, otherwise you don’t progress. But certain rumours still come out.

“At Arsenal, I received criticism, but I turned the situation around. With Lampard at Chelsea, before the Euros, I wanted to leave to play more. In the last three days of the transfer window, I kept going to his office to find a solution: I was one step away from Inter, then fate brought me to Milan the following year…”