Calabria praise for ‘super positive environment’ at Bologna compared to Milan | OneFootball

Davide Calabria repeatedly stated that he chose Bologna for the ‘healthy environment’ and ‘super positive atmosphere,’ all elements he felt were lacking recently at Milan.

The right-back spent almost his entire career in the Rossoneri jersey, coming up through their academy and going on to wear the captain’s armband in recent years.

However, he was pushed further and further down the pecking order and there was no intention of extending his contract, so he moved to Bologna in the January transfer window.

“Leaving Milan was a choice I pondered for days, but it was the right decision for everyone involved, and I don’t want to get into the details of that,” said Calabria in his presentation press conference at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

“Obviously, it was a departure tinged with sadness, as I grew up at Milanello, but I chose Bologna for this new adventure because I see a strong potential here. I found an ambitious team and there is a positive atmosphere, which I really like.”

Many of his comments felt like barbed digs at the situation that he left behind at San Siro, especially after the on-field argument with coach Sergio Conceicao that almost got physical.

“I do think it is a chance to prove myself again, to get back to playing the way I did in previous years, with consistency. Over there, some even unpleasant situations had been created, so I am happy to have found a nice, healthy environment to work in here with a super positive energy that I had been lacking recently.”

Calabria shrugs off Conceicao questions, but aims a few digs

Davide Calabria and team mates of AC Milan applaud the fans followi the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Inevitably, there were questions about what happened with Conceicao when they had to be held apart by other players, but Calabria refused to “go back over that situation.”

He preferred to focus on another coach that he worked with at Milan and who remains fondly remembered at Bologna too, Sinisa Mihajlovic.

“Sinisa was the first coach to launch my career and I will always be grateful to him. I was meant to go out on loan, but he spoke directly and said he wanted me to stay at Milan.”

As for the future at Bologna, his contract only runs to the end of the season and then he will be a free agent.

“If I chose this club, it’s because I saw something wonderful here. There really is a healthy atmosphere and Vincenzo Italiano has a similar playing style to Stefano Pioli, with movements for the full-backs that are best suited to me. I feel like I’ve been here for months already,” added Calabria.

Could he even try getting back into the Italy squad after falling out of favour?

“Why not? It is an objective and maybe even a target.”