Former Milan midfielder Ruud Gullit has revealed he has not been contacted by the club about any kind of role, and backed the current team to challenge for the title.
Gullit moved from PSV to AC Milan for a world record transfer fee back in 1987 when the club was in a very different era, namely the Silvio Berlusconi tenure that had just begun. He won three Serie A titles and two European Cups with Milan, also lifting the Ballon d’Or in 1987 and being named the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989.
The Dutchman spoke to Sky Italia at the ‘Giacinto Facchetti Awards’ event and was asked for his thoughts about a number of topics related to his former club, with his comments transcribed by PianetaMilan.
“I owe a lot to Italy, there is so much beauty and I’m always happy to come here. I am very happy that Milan found the right path. I saw it against Juve and against Liverpool: they suffered a lot and had a bit of luck in the goals; the speed of the English was too much for the Rossoneri, but in the second half they found the right way to face the Reds,” he said.
“I think this match will help Milan improve for the season: they will become even stronger. Little by little they will take a step forward towards a Milan that can win. Milan are much better than two years ago. Back then there were some problems. The club has finally taken the right path.”
Paolo Maldini – a former team-mate of Gullit from the glory days of the early 1990s – has been given a lot of praise for his work as the technical director, deploying a youth-led approach to recruitment that has seen some real talent arrive.
On Maldini, Gullit added: “He is doing very well, it’s a new job for him too. I am happy that there is a former player I know at the Rossoneri.”
If Ibrahimovic deserved to win the Ballon d’Or: “There are many high-level players, but for what he is doing he is definitely a champion. I hope he will win an award of recognition for all he has done.”
On a potential future as a director at Milan: “Nobody contacted me from Milan. They took another path with many former players who are not in the Rossoneri, apart from Maldini.”
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