De Sciglio explains when he realised Milan exit was inevitable: “Boos rained down”

Mattia De Sciglio has opened up about the moment that forced him to reconsider his AC Milan ties, eventually joining the league rivals Juventus. 

De Sciglio first appeared on the big scene in the 2011-12 season, making his debut in the Champions League (of all competitions) for Milan. He quickly proved to be a versatile defender, able to play on each flank and in the centre if needed.

Naturally, he was a player that Massimiliano Allegri liked a lot and that resulted in a lot of playing time during the 2012-13 season. He continued to be an important player after the manager’s departure, staying until the summer of 2017 when he joined Juventus.

Heartbreak for the Milan product

In an interview with Corriere della Sera, as transcribed by MilanNews, De Sciglio opened up about his departure from Milan and revealed the moment in which he knew it was over. Unsurprisingly, it was linked to the turbulence that surrounded the club at the time.

“I had an injury that took away my consistency. After a few poor performances, things really unravelled. It was on April 23rd, 2017, Milan against Empoli. We were two goals down and in the 70th minute, Montella decided to take me off.

“I was angry. It was a substitution I never understood. It seemed like he wanted to use me as a scapegoat to shift attention from the entire team’s difficulties.

“As I was leaving the pitch, a hail of boos rained down on me from the stands. That day, I realised I couldn’t continue like this: my story with Milan was over,” he stated.