Theo Hernandez breaks silence: Lost Milan spirit, unwanted farewell | OneFootball

A long, complex, and far from painless separation. Theo Hernandez's farewell to Milan was not the result of an impulsive decision but the forced conclusion of a journey that, according to the player himself, had lost its identity, values, and vision.

Al-Hilal, Theo Hernandez breaks the silence: Milan, the lost Milanism, and a farewell never truly wanted

From the setting of Riyadh, where Milan experienced a brief and bitter stint in the Italian Super Cup, the former Rossoneri full-back publicly spoke about the separation after six intense seasons, rich in successes but also tensions. He did so in a long interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport, drawing a personal and human balance sheet even before a sporting one.

A new life away from Milan

Today, Theo is in a different phase of his career, away from Italy and the often heated atmosphere of Milanello. His judgment on the choice is clear: “Here I feel like a god. It was the best possible decision. The only real problem is the traffic, truly terrible.” Words that paint the picture of a player finally at peace, at least off the field.

The relationship with Inzaghi and the weight of the derbies

On the sporting front, Hernandez also talked about his relationship with Simone Inzaghi, the coach who wanted him in this new adventure: “He immediately said to me, ‘shall we go win together?’. At Inter, they called him the ‘demon’, but that definition only applies on the field. Off it, he’s a true gentleman.” There are also jokes about the recent past: “Sometimes he jokes about the fact that last year I made him lose the Super Cup here in Riyadh, and the staff doesn’t miss a chance to remind me of the derbies or the duels with Dumfries.”

The encounter with Milan and still open wounds

The derbies, indeed. And Milan. A bond that remains deep, despite everything. Theo recounted meeting some former teammates before the match with Napoli: “When I left, I couldn’t hug them all as I would have liked. I was sorry for their defeat.” Words of esteem for Bartesaghi and a hug for Modric, whom he met during his time in Madrid: “A genius, on another level.”

However, a bitter note does not go unnoticed: “I saw Allegri, Tare, and Ibra. Furlani didn’t show up.” A detail that introduces the central theme of the interview.

“I would never have left”

Theo Hernandez strongly asserts his position: “I would never have left. My priority was to stay at Milan.” According to him, it was the club’s direction that changed: “Some decisions no longer reflected the values and ambition that convinced me to come here.” The reference is clear to the old management: “When I arrived, there were Massara, Boban, and Maldini, my idol. Ibra is top, but after Paolo, everything changed, and for the worse.”

Mistakes, accusations, and the need for truth

The account does not lack self-criticism and personal pain: “I know I made mistakes, like the expulsions with Fiorentina and Feyenoord. We are human. I wasn’t mentally calm and could have done better, but the fans know who Theo was at Milan.” Hernandez also wanted to clarify some off-field accusations: “There are those who want to ruin your life and career. Reading certain things hurt me, but my family knows it’s not true.”

The sense of abandonment and the lack of Milanism

The hardest part concerns the relationship with the club: “I would have deserved better treatment. I didn’t expect it.” Theo talks about internal pressures and an irreparable rift after Maldini’s departure: “When a manager tells you ‘if you stay, we’ll put you out of the squad’, what can you do? You have to look elsewhere.” And he adds a symbolic episode: “Calabria and I showed up at Milanello with Paolo’s jersey, and someone didn’t like it. They tore down a flag for nothing. Apart from Ibra, the lack of Milanism is felt.”

A love that doesn’t fade

Despite everything, the emotional bond remains intact: “If Milan won the championship, I would celebrate among the fans.” But about the future, he is categorical: “Return? Now I want to win here. As long as certain people are there, I won’t return.” A statement that closes the circle on a farewell never truly processed, but that leaves an open wound still alive in the Rossoneri heart.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.