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Theo Hernandez has opened up about his departure in the summer, stating that he never wanted to leave AC Milan. Instead, he was given an ultimatum by an unnamed director, which forced him to make the decision.
Milan agreed to sell the French star to Al Hilal in the summer, banking around €25m in the process. That number could have been a lot higher if it hadn’t been for an expiring contract and stalled renewal talks, which ultimately resulted in the decision to part ways.
For the Rossoneri, in addition to a much-needed capital gain given the lack of Champions League football, the sale was also a way to avoid committing to a higher salary with a renewal. The latter is very controversial, though, as most wanted Hernandez to stay at the club.
Bruatal and honest words
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, which was published this morning, Hernandez opened up about the departure. He made it clear that he never wanted to leave the club, and that reports of a very high salary demand were all false.
What’s life like in Riyadh?
“Awesome. It was the best choice. The only downside is the traffic, which is terrible.”
How did Inzaghi convince you?
“He said to me: ‘Shall we go and win together?’. I know that at Inter, they called him ‘the demon’. On the pitch, he’s one person, off it he’s another: a gentleman. Every now and then, he makes a joke about the fact that last year I made him lose the Supercoppa here in Riyadh, but even his staff reminds me of the derbies or the duels with Dumfries.”
Have you met Milan?
“Yes, before the Napoli match [in the Supercoppa]. When I left, I couldn’t hug them all like I wanted. I’m sorry they lost. I said ‘well done’ to Bartesaghi, who deserves everything, and hugged Modric, whom I played with in Madrid. A genius: he’s on another level.”
Did you speak to the directors too?
“Allegri, Tare, and Ibra. Furlani didn’t show up.”
Would you have left Milan?
“Never. My priority was to stay.”
Did you reject Como last January?
“My agent never mentioned it to me. They said I had asked for insane figures for the renewal, that I was pushing for a transfer… all false.”
Your farewell post was controversial… “The direction the club has taken and some of its decisions do not reflect the values and ambition that brought me here.”
“It’s the truth. When I arrived, the club had Massara, Boban, and Maldini, my idol. Ibra is a top player, but after Paolo, everything changed for the worse.”
Did the fans’ criticism hurt you?
“A lot. I know I made mistakes, like the red cards against Fiorentina and Feyenoord, but we’re human. I wasn’t mentally at peace and could have done better, but the fans know who the real Theo was at Milan.”
There was also talk of alleged assaults…
“I finally have the chance to talk about it: there are people who want to ruin your life and career. I was hurt when I read certain things, but my family knows it’s not true.”
Back to the pitch: was skipping Fonseca’s famous cooling break a mistake?
“It was blown out of proportion. Leao and I had just come on and we stayed put. They said we didn’t have a good relationship with the coaches, but that wasn’t true. I also got along well with Conceicao. He was authoritarian, but people talked nonsense.”
Did you feel abandoned by Milan?
“I deserved better treatment. I didn’t expect it. Some teammates pushed me to stay, but when a director calls you and says ‘if you stay here, we’ll cut you from the squad,’ then what can I do?”
How many times were you close to leaving the Rossoneri?
“Honestly, I don’t know. I always told my agent not to tell me anything. In Italy, I would only play for AC Milan.”
Maldini chose you…
“The day he called me to meet was the best day of my sporting life. He joined me in Ibiza and we chatted. I couldn’t believe it. If I have become who I am, and also the AC Milan defender with the most goals, it’s thanks to him. We’re still in touch. His shirt with the dedication: ‘Theo, my worthy heir’ makes me emotional.”
Did his farewell shock you?
“I felt disoriented. Last year, Calabria and I showed up at Milanello wearing Paolo’s jersey, and some people didn’t like it. They ripped up a flag for nothing. Aside from Ibra, the lack of Milanese spirit is noticeable.”
What was Zlatan like as a teammate?
“He used to beat us up in training. For our own good.”
Pioli’s secret, instead?
“After that 5-0 defeat in Bergamo, he turned us inside out. I remember his speeches and his calmness. The 2022 Scudetto was born there, with that defeat. We were a family; they were magical, unrepeatable, heart-pounding years. And to think that under Giampaolo at the beginning, I almost never played… but oh well, I had just arrived.”
His best goal?
“The one in Milan-Atalanta 2-0, the year of the Scudetto. A 90-meter coast-to-coast. The fans still talk to me about it: pure instinct.”
Is Leao a champion?
“He’s very strong, but sometimes his head is in the wrong place. In those years, he and I, there on the left, hurt everyone, so I don’t view him as striker.”
Will Maignan renew?
“He has a similar situation to mine, and it didn’t end well.”
Were you the best full-back in Serie A?
“Yes. And in Europe, I like Nuno Mendes.”
Speaking of PSG: your brother won the Champions League… against Inter.
“I was as happy as he was. Inzaghi reminds me of him too, but what can I do? I’m a Milan fan at heart…”
Is the goal to win the World Cup together?
“Yes. Every now and then, I see Kolo Muani’s 2022 chance… I hope Italy gets it too.”
What if Milan win the Scudetto?
“I would celebrate among the fans.”
What if they asked you to come back?
“Now I want to win here. But as long as certain people are here, I won’t come back.”
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