Savicevic explains why Milan’s winter mercato was a success: “They are getting stronger” | OneFootball

Dejan Savicevic has praised AC Milan’s management for the moves made during the winter window, believing that Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez will be a success.

Milan were among the most active clubs in Europe in terms of the January business that they did, and we published a breakdown of the financial impact that the five signings and six exits has on our Substack.

The main headline of course is the signings that were made. Kyle Walker and Santiago Gimenez arrived first, and then in a frantic deadline day Joao Felix, Warren Bondo and Riccardo Sottil got across the line too.

Ismael Bennacer, Noah Okafor, Davide Calabria and Alvaro Morata were the main departures as the management really seemed to opt to press the reset button.

Savicevic gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he spoke about the business that Milan did in January and what Conceicao can bring.

Capello said: “Savicevic was one of the strongest players I have ever coached.” Not bad, huh?

“I was very pleased, I thank him. At the beginning I had problems with him. But there were many of us, I was no longer a kid, I came from the European champion Red Star. In that Milan there were the three Dutchmen and Papin. And Lentini. It was tough, I also had some physical problems.”

Then you, and your ally Berlusconi, convinced Capello and a solution was found…

“The situations changed. Capello waited for me patiently. Now I can say that Fabio was the best coach I’ve had.”

More Stories / The Match

Gallery: ‘Gimenez heats San Siro up’, ‘Dybala agitates Milan’ – Today’s front pages in Italy

5 February 2025, 10:19

MN: Predicted Milan XI vs. Roma – the lineup after the arrivals train

4 February 2025, 20:30

Coppa Italia preview: AC Milan vs. Roma – Team news, opposition insight, stats and prediction

4 February 2025, 19:00

Your crowning moment was the final against Barcelona. That lob, that 4-0 against Cruijff…

“And there were no Baresi and Costacurta in defence. I scored that goal… Capello said to me: ‘But how did it come to you?’. I replied: ‘Mister, I already knew I would score’. But Massaro had scored two. In a final. Daniele had a nose, he could smell the goal.”

You always said: “Massaro and I were a great pairing.” Was it nice to play with him?

“I was very happy with it, I always got along with those who had the goal in their head.”

The old Milan had Savicevic-Massaro, now the fans are waiting for the Joao Felix-Gimenez duo. Fantasy and goals. Can they dream again?

“Of course, they have to. Milan is a great team, they have a crest on their arm with seven Champions Leagues. Do you understand? Seven. Milan is history. I am very proud to have been part of one of the best teams in the world. And the new signings will be too.”

Five came in one window: Walker, Gimenez, Joao Felix, Sottil and Bondo. A nice refresh?

“They are getting stronger, I’m sorry they sold Bennacer, I liked him. Sottil? I remember the name, his father was a good player.”

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

People say: they are forced to win. Do you agree?

“They have already won a trophy, now there is a Coppa Italia and a Champions League place to conquer. They will do it, they must do it.”

Can Joao Felix and Gimenez coexist?

“I definitely think so. In any case there is a coach, Sergio seems to me to be the right man, above all for Joao Felix.”

Why ‘above all’?

“Well because he is a great talent and needs to be recovered. I saw him in action, how he moves, how he dribbles and participates in the game, the player is there.”

He seemed to be a bit sad…

“Sad? At Milan you can neither be sad nor sulk. Conceiçao will help him fit in. They are Portuguese, they speak the same language and they certainly think the same football.”

And Gimenez?

“I don’t know him very well. I’ve seen that he scores a lot of goals, that he scores consistently. Then there’s Ibrahimovic’s word. If Ibra says he’s strong, it means he’s strong.”