Locatelli reflects honestly on 10 years spent at Milan: “I didn’t get any help”

Manuel Locatelli spent his early youth days with Atalanta, but then he joined AC Milan, where he spent 10 years making a name for himself.

Most will know Locatelli for his time at Juventus, but for Milan, he will always be part of that list of players who were probably a little too early or too late. The midfielder joined the Primavera in 2009 and rose through the ranks, making 48 appearances for the senior team between 2016 and 2019.

At the height of the banter period, Locatelli was seen as someone who could play a large part in the re-emergence of the Rossoneri on the big stage. However, he couldn’t lead the team and was eventually sold to Sassuolo after a loan spell there in the previous season.

Locatelli revists Milan experience

Looking back on his 10 years as a Diavolo player, Locatelli was honest about his own mistakes, but felt that more should’ve been done to help him, as he told Rivista Undici via MilanVibes.

“I will always be grateful to Milan: I went through the ranks from the youth team to the first team. It was my home, and I will always thank Montella for having placed his trust in me.”

Problems at Milan…

“What weighed on me was that I didn’t have the tools to manage it all. I was still too young and immature. There were enormous expectations placed on me, and inside me, they seemed even greater, especially after that goal against Juve.

All of this held me back, and I wasn’t even capable of questioning myself. Many times I didn’t take responsibility, I blamed others, and I looked for excuses. I made a lot of mistakes during that period, but I also believe I wasn’t helped.”