So would you choose Zirkzee?
“I didn’t say that, but the age issue also has its importance. Zirkzee is a player who guarantees a future, Lukaku seems to me a more suitable solution for the immediate. In short: the Dutchman has considerable room for growth, while we have known Lukaku’s qualities for several years. It’s easy to say: I need a centre forward. But then you have to see what type of centre forward, they are not all the same. I was not similar to Batistuta, just to get personal. And in fact we could coexist and we played together in the national team”.
In the new Milan, would you prefer Zirkzee or Lukaku?
“Milan need to score early, to score. The San Siro crowd doesn’t have time to wait, and this is an important aspect. Zirkzee had an excellent season with Bologna, scoring 11 goals. Lukaku wasn’t brilliant in the last championship, but if he has the right motivation and if he is well prepared from a physical point of view he can be a guarantee. Zirkzee is young, how could he handle the impact with San Siro? Believe me, I’m telling you this as someone who has experienced that emotion first hand: playing in that stadium is not like playing elsewhere. Zirkzee has been very good so far, but in Bologna. And Bologna is not Milan. Lukaku is more used to big stages, he has consolidated international experience.”
With the Belgian the game would be more vertical.
“There’s no doubt about it. He attacks the depth: if he’s in form, with two passes he gets to the goal because he’s a closet that drags the defenders with him.”
With Zirkzee, on the other hand, we would see a Milan more inclined to ball control.
“Exactly. I would say a Milan devoted to tiqui-taca, to phrasing in the middle of the field. However, it seems to me that European football is moving towards a greater verticalization of the maneuver, as taught by Real Madrid of my master Ancelotti.”
In conclusion, Zirkzee or Lukaku?
«For today’s Milan, perhaps Lukaku is more suitable».
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