SERGIO AND SIMON | OneFootball

A lovely Friday evening in Cattolica, the jewel of the Romagna Riviera. Just a few hours after the opening of the 2026 edition of the Banco BPM Milan Cup – the season-ending event that brings together all AC Milan Academies and grassroots football schools – everyone gathered in the town square. Piazza 1° Maggio, in the heart of Cattolica, was packed with tourists, football enthusiasts, athletes and curious onlookers. The event was jointly hosted by AC Milan, represented by Serginho and the Club’s organisational staff, and the Municipality of Cattolica, represented by Mayor Franca Foronchi and Councillor for Sport and Tourism Elisabetta Bartolucci. Above all, however, it was the setting itself that provided the perfect backdrop. A gentle breeze, pleasant temperatures, clear skies and the final shades of a beautiful red sunset, so typical of Cattolica, created a special atmosphere. Serginho relaxed into this setting, answering questions from everyone in attendance, including the Mayor herself.

The Serginho who won trophies with AC Milan gave way to a 54-year-old sportsman speaking openly and sincerely. The Brazilian champion revealed that he had always supported AC Milan since childhood – something not unusual in Brazil – but it was when discussing the evening’s theme, “Growing Through Sport”, that he truly opened up. Serginho engaged with the young participants who took to the stage to ask questions, doing so with excitement and engagement. The conversation also brought out several anecdotes that the former Rossoneri winger had never shared before. Having arrived at AC Milan in the summer of 1999, he revealed that he had come close to joining a different club instead. He also recounted a memorable story from a cold Sunday in February, when President Silvio Berlusconi personally took him onto the training pitches at Milanello to work on defensive marking. A vivid image that was complemented the following morning by the presence of Simon Kjær, who was in Cattolica to watch his son Viggo competing on the pitches of the Banco BPM Milan Cup.

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