Ambrosini reveals details of emotional Milan exit: “I cried in Siena’s dressing room”

Massimo Ambrosini has revealed some of the background on the moment that he knew he would be leaving AC Milan.

Ambrosini joined Milan back in 1995 and he spent 18 years of his career with the Rossoneri, winning 12 trophies including four Scudetti and the Champions League twice. The midfielder also captained the side from 2009 to 2013 following the retirement of Paolo Maldini.

He left at the end of the 2012-13 season and headed to Fiorentina on a free transfer. He ended up making 30 appearances for La Viola in his only season there, before announcing in May 2014 that he would be leaving and eventually that he would be hanging up his boots.

Ambrosini was linked with a return in a director role in the summer, but nothing came of it. The Italian spoke during a podcast on Cronache di Spogliatoio, and he shared a behind-the-scenes story following his farewell to Milan in 2013. His comments have been relayed by MilanPress.

“Siena-Milan was over, my last match for Milan. I already knew they wouldn’t renew my contract, even though they hadn’t confirmed it yet,” he said.

“I didn’t say goodbye to the fans, I cried in Siena’s dressing room while everyone was celebrating our Champions League qualification after the 2-1 win, which was a miracle that year under Allegri. They didn’t know I was leaving, but I already knew.

“The next day I stayed in Siena, with my agent Moreno Roggi, we took a plane and went to London to talk to Sam Allardyce because West Ham had asked for information and wanted me. We arrived and talked about everything except football.

“I thought it would be a meeting where we’d talk about money, football, but he didn’t talk about anything. I kicked my agent and said, ‘Oh, we came all the way to London…’

“After he eats, the first one gets up and says: ‘Excuse me, but I have to go to the pitch because a new player has arrived and I have to show him the training centre.’ At which point I send a message to my agent and say: ‘Let’s go to the bathroom.’

“I say: ‘Is this guy stupid? He makes me come all the way to London and leaves in the middle of lunch.’ So we left, I returned to Italy and signed for Fiorentina. The day I signed, the offer from West Ham arrived.”