Romagnoli sheds more light on Milan exit: 'I had an agreement with the club'

Alessio Romagnoli has shed some light on his version of events regarding his exit from AC Milan last year, revealing details of an offer that was then retracted.

Romagnoli spent over half a decade at Milan having joined back in the summer of 2015 from Roma, but he left on a free transfer and joined the team he grew up supporting, namely Lazio.

He has become a starter there under Maurizio Sarri, slotting into a three-man defence which perhaps better shows his qualities and hides his weaknesses. Nevertheless, some Rossoneri fans question whether letting him leave for free was the right decision.

Romagnoli was interviewed by Città Celeste about leaving Milan and joining Lazio, and he revealed that there was a deal in place that would have seen him extend his contract but it was pulled back.

“Did I feel abandoned? No, but I had an agreement with the club, then they made other choices and I made mine. It ended peacefully, after seven years in which I felt good. What I spent at Milan was a very beautiful for me, which I will always carry in my heart,” he said (via La Gazzetta dello Sport).

“The 13? It was Nesta’s shirt, it’s normal for a defender to aspire to wear it. I also have other numbers that I’m attached to and that I couldn’t take at Milan, for example the 6, which was retired. Galliani suggested the 13 to me, and I accepted.”

The centre-back also spoke about the differences between the three biggest clubs in Serie A – namely Milan, Inter and Juventus – compared to the Roman clubs.

“Inter, Juve and Milan have been used to competing for the top places for years, they have a better culture of starting from scratch than ours, every year fighting to win or secure a Champions League place. In short, they have a different mentality. But we also have to aim for the Champions League.”