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Santiago Gimenez has claimed that AC Milan are yet to see the true version of him, as he continues his recovery from injury.
It is one year ago almost to the day that Gimenez was completing his big-money move from Feyenoord to Milan. The striker was expected to be the missing piece in the push for a top four spot, with the team in eighth at the time, and also possibly the number nine for many years to come.
After a very positive start, the Mexican suffered a bit of a slowdown as the team around him also struggled. There was talk of a summer sale after just a few months but Santi remained, and then he was sidelined by surgery on a troublesome ankle issue, which he is still recovering from.
Gimenez on Milan, Modric and Italy
He is expected back after March. In the meantime, Gimenez gave an interview to ESPN Mexico in which he spoke about various topics from his struggles at Milan to some new team-mates and what the future might hold. MilanPress transcribed what he had to say.
Do you feel the trust from Milan?
“My ankle is fixed, get ready! They [Milan] must see something in me because, even though I haven’t performed as well as I would have liked and haven’t yet shown who I am and what I can do, they have faith in my abilities and have defended me on many occasions when I’ve been criticised, and I really appreciate that.”
What is it like being a Milan player?
“AC Milan is a team I’ve dreamed of playing for since I was a kid. I’d watch Dida, Kaká, Crespo, Ronaldinho, and Pirlo and it gave me goosebumps. Wearing their jersey is a source of great pride for me.
“Dreams do come true, and the fact that they have faith in me, even though I haven’t achieved great sporting results myself, is something I really appreciate.”
You’re now Luka Modric’s team-mate…
“He’s my neighbour. We’ve shared some really good times because he speaks Spanish and, besides, he lives next door to me. A funny story is that he came to my house, knocked on the door, and asked for the massage table.
“His physical therapist had come, he knew I had one, and when he asked, I was with my family and everyone wanted a photo (laughs). He chatted with them, he’s a fantastic guy. As a person, he’s even better. He helped me a lot, he’s very experienced, he’s a great leader, and he creates great team spirit.”
What is life like in Italy?
“I love everything about Italy, starting with the people. They may seem grumpy at first, but when they welcome you, it’s like you’re their brother. I really like that. They’re very familiar, there are people who don’t know you and they embrace you.
“I see it within the team, and that’s what I really like about Italians. I love the food. There’s no chili pepper, but there’s pizza and pasta, there’s everything. Cooking is an art, and the city is elegant; the most exclusive cafes coexist with the more simple ones, and everything seems normal.”
English (US) ·