Colombo recalls 12-year journey at Milan and reveals the nickname Zlatan gave him | OneFootball

Lorenzo Colombo is having yet another useful spell out on loan, this time with Lecce in Serie A after his time with SPAL in Serie B last year.

This morning Colombo gave an interview with Tuttosport (via MilanNews) in which he talked about a number of different topics from the beginning of his journey with the club to his relationship with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He was selected at a very young age to join Milan’s youth teams 12 years ago and from there he completed the whole process of graduating through the various age groups right up to the first team, but it has not all been smooth.

“A stress fracture in the fifth metatarsal of my right foot first forced me to undergo surgery, then to give up on the under-17 World Cup and three months off. Instead it helped me to be stronger mentally. When I came back I scored something like 7 goals in 5 games,” he said.

Colombo made his debut as a starter with the Milan first team aged just 18 after a few appearances in the previous season. It was the Europa League play-off against Bodo/Glimt, in an empty San Siro due to the pandemic.

“I scored my first goal with the Rossoneri shirt: it was a dream come true. I was lined up as a starter due to a series of circumstances: the Covid positivity of Ibrahimovic and the suspension of Rebic,” he said.

Speaking of Zlatan, it is tough for a young player like Colombo not to be fascinated attracted by the personality of the Swede, who has been described as a big brother by many.

“An important and fundamental experience. Living it every day allowed me to get to know him very well. A very nice man, but at the same time he manages to keep the level of attention and quality high in the locker room,” Colombo said.

“I learned about self-care from him in detail: training, nutrition and mentality. He made me understand that every day is important for us players, because every day is decisive for our growth on and off the pitch. Ibra also gave me a nickname. He called me Hulk.”

Lecce have an option to buy Colombo next summer but the Rossoneri are then expected to use their buy-back, though the 20-year-old is just thinking about the present moment.

“Mister Baroni is giving me a lot. He always talks to me and helps me figure out what to improve. I know that everything he does and says is for my good and that of my team-mates,” he said.

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