With A.C. Milan he won everything (3 “scudetti”, 2 Champion’s Cup, 2 Intercontinental Cups), and he has been through all sorts, going from the disastrous Farina management to Sacchi’s big team.

260 games played in Premier league in 13 seasons and one goal above all: the one which, on a free kick, gave the International Cup to the red and black against Medellin’s Nacional.

He began his career as full back, with a debut in second division, later becoming a halfback, and finally Left Winger Midfielder, perfectly embodying the role of modern “wing” as planned in the new “Sacchi” philosophy. He was one of the public’s most beloved players, and after a digression in Sampdoria before leaving played football; he is once more under the red and black colours.

Tell us about your new activity...
This year I started my new activity as a coach. Franco Baresi gave me the great opportunity to start with Milan, with the kids. The season has started well, I am satisfied. Next year I continue with the same group, we’ll make sure we keep improving.

What do you like more about this new job of yours?
I like working with such young people. You see improvements straight away, almost every day, and at these levels they cause few problems.

What are the differences compared to when you started?
Today kids have a lot more things. They all have a mobile, a computer, they have a lot more ways to spend time, they know the world better. But I must say that when they are training they carry out what they are asked thoroughly, they want to learn. Apparently they seem spoilt and lazy compared to the kids of my generation who were starting their career, afterwards however they go for it. The passion for football keeps them away from many other passions typical of their age, so basically I don’t think there are any significant differences.

One of the strengths of A.C. Milan in your days was the harmony among the players. You shared a room with Sergio Battistini, you arrived from the same city, and it showed on the field...
Yes, we were very close. We lived together for many years; we came to Milan from Massa, where we both played, together. We arrived here and we have divided everything, good and bad things, and the remoteness from our parents and from friends... we encouraged each other through the whole period of the youth clubs. Then we arrived together at the first team, we carried on sharing the same room for a few years, then our paths diverged… he went to Florence, I continued in A.C. Milan, fortunately for me! Because in those years the great Milan was born...

In those days some dubbed you as already “passed” … then you exploded...
I was lucky to have some great coaches, starting from Liedholm, but I am grateful to all of them for what they have taught me. Of course, I probably owe a special thanks to Sacchi, but that’s not just me, I would say the whole of football owes him something, because he changed the game and the very idea of football in Italy.

The best memory out of your career in A.C. Milan?
Fortunately I have many...in those years there were more successes than defeats… I went through some tough times under the Farina presidency, we had regressed, the company was about to go bankrupt, and there were really tough moments. Then fortunately Berlusconi arrived and took the team to the top of world football. The best memory I think was the first championship won, especially since we were used to winning nothing, and when you make it you feel an immense satisfaction. Then we carried on winning, but I never felt that same intensity of emotions and feelings of the first scudetto again.

The greatest disappointment?
Probably the defeat in the Champion’s Cup final with Marseille… bad moments, but they pass quickly, in the end all you need is a night to leave them behind.