Donadoni critical after Feyenoord UCL exit: “I struggle to recognise Milan” | OneFootball

Roberto Donadoni has criticised his former club AC Milan for a lack of ‘style’ compared to when he was a player there.

Milan’s early exit from the Champions League at the hands of Feyenoord has triggered a strong reaction from the media and from pundits, given they were big favourites going into the tie.

The major incident in that game was Theo’s red card and it has led to suggestions that his time at Milan will end in the summer, given his contract situation too. He is, however, expected to start tonight against Torino.

There is a sombre mood in view of this evening’s game, which is the first in a crucial trio. A trip to face Bologna and then a home clash with Lazio come next week, which will be huge in the top four push.

Donadoni did an interview with Corriere dello Sport (via MilanNews) that was published in this morning’s edition, and he didn’t hold back with his criticism.

“I was in the stands the other night, I suffered. I struggle to recognise Milan. They cause me suffering, that style is no longer there and I’m not just referring to on the pitch,” he said.

Donadoni then also spoke about Silvio Berlusconi: “Berlusconi was exceptional with me, I still heard from him every now and then. Seven days before his death I called San Raffaele, the secretary answered, I asked her to say that I had called him to say hello.

“The next day he called, his voice tired. ‘Oh Roberto’, he said, ‘I’m glad you remember your president’. A lump in my throat, I was on the verge of tears. Even today, if I think about it, I get goosebumps. It’s a memory I will cherish. Berlusconi always cared about the people he worked with.

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“At the 125th anniversary party of Milan, at the beginning of December, I met Dr. Galliani. He asked me about Monza. Things weren’t going well for Nesta. After Nesta fell through, I hoped that Monza was a possibility.

“I often thought about why Milan didn’t look for me too . Leonardo, Inzaghi, Seedorf, Brocchi, Gattuso with the other management were there… Galliani said it was Berlusconi… Once I even asked Berlusconi and he told me it was Galliani who didn’t want me.

“I have never entered into the choices of people I am close to, even though I thought that would have been my ideal destination, the most natural, almost physiological.

“In recent years others have come forward, even Cagliari a couple of times, but negotiations have never started, sometimes by my choice, other times by the will of the clubs. Who have every right to do as they want.”