Chiellini comments on Giroud’s LAFC move and who Milan should replace him with | OneFootball

Giorgio Chiellini believes that Los Angeles FC is the right move for Olivier Giroud, and he suggested the player that AC Milan should sign to replace him.

Chiellini will leave Los Angeles in July, after two years as a footballer and director for the Los Angeles franchise. He is ready to return to Italy, but Giroud will take the opposite path, from Serie A to MLS.

It had been speculated about for weeks, but on Monday it was finally announced by Giroud himself that he will be leaving Milan at the end of the season as the striker gave an emotional interview to Milan TV.

Stefano Pioli and his team-mates all sent their own goodbye messages, and his final match will be the on against Salernitana at San Siro in the last round of the season.

Chiellini gave an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport about the news of Giroud heading to the United States, suggesting the man that Milan should look at to replace him.

Now you can reveal it, when did you know that Giroud would come?

“In January we understood a lot, we were waiting for it but the danger was that another offer would arrive. Don’t think that here he will get the same money as Europe…”

His family instead voted for LA and Giroud too. What can the city give him?

“Time with his family, above all. In Turin, from August to May, I had lunch twice a year with my wife, here after a few weeks of family lunches she almost sent me back to the camp… Jokes aside, in MLS is about having fun and living well, there is less pressure.”

What differences are there, apart from the stress of the press?

“One example above all: here you don’t go on retreat and for the match you come directly to the field. At first it’s strange, then you understand that it’s just different.”

And what can Giroud give to the franchise?

“He can score 20 goals a year and they’re fine: he’s not the type to score 50, he also needs the team. Then in Los Angeles he could also be an actor. For me, however, he will make the difference especially with his character.”

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Why?

“Because Giroud wants to win, he is a driving force, he will make his teammates grow as he did with Leao, Pulisic and others. Here mentality counts a lot. If you arrive with the presumption of being the best, you do badly. If you come to learn, you end up perform well. The person makes the difference.”

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What is striking about Giroud as an opponent?

“The fact that he won a decisive World Cup as a centre-forward without scoring. For a number 9, it’s very difficult. This is where his greatness lies.”

Milan will lose a lot…

“Yes, a lot. First Ibra went, now him, and they are blows that can be felt. Milan have an advantage: they knew it, they saw the danger coming. And I’ll tell you more: if Giroud had stayed, he would have found himself in a difficult situation. At the beginning it’s nice to help a young player grow, then you risk becoming cumbersome.”

Among the potential replacements, who would be ideal?

“In Italy the player who did best is certainly Zirkzee, even though I know that many like him. I already liked him in Parma, you could see that he had shots, he was good. Then of course, there is an abyss between shots and consistency.”

Looking at Italy from afar, what thoughts do you have?

“I think that Inter are the strongest team, without a doubt. Logically they won. For me they can open a cycle in the next two years, it will be hard for everyone also because Milan and Napoli, from what I read, will almost certainly change coaches: in six months almost all the benches have changed or will change, impressive. And the first year with a new coach is always complex.”

Other?

“I’m happy for Daniele [De Rossi] and Thiago [Motta]. They are friends. Now I hope that Fabio [Cannavaro] survives with Udinese. The affection for them goes beyond everything.”