Giménez: “For a striker the best way to get back is by scoring, Allegri is very focused on intensity” | OneFootball

Santiago Giménez celebrating during Leeds United-AC Milan at Aviva Stadium on August 9, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland. (@acmilan.com)

Santiago Giménez was happy to find himself scoring on his first game back.

It’s no secret that Milan are looking to sign a new striker this summer with Dušan Vlahović and Rasmus Højlund the top targets, but inside the squad there’s also Santi Giménez.

The Mexican was the marquee signing in January and he will look to prove his doubters wrong. Today (Saturday) he had his first pre-season match after returning from holidays, and he scored Milan’s only goal in the 1-1 draw against Leeds.

“I’ve just come back from vacation, and for a striker the best way to get back is by scoring. It was a good team performance; we’re training hard. We arrived here a bit tired, but we gave everything for the shirt,” he told DAZN after the match.

What kind of atmosphere did you find here in Dublin?“An incredible welcome — this is how we’d like to play every match. It’s amazing to see 50,000 people cheering like this.”

Tomorrow you’ll immediately play against Chelsea…“It’s part of the preparation. Allegri is very focused on intensity; he wants us to be physically ready for the start of the season. Tomorrow we play Chelsea and we’ll give everything again.”

How do you restart after last season?“Last season went really badly, but we’re Milan and we have to push hard to win trophies and compete the way Milan deserves.”