MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 30: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan applauds the fans following the team's victory during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 30, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 30: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan applauds the fans following the team's victory during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 30, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fikayo Tomori has no regrets about leaving Chelsea for Milan, even if it is ‘hard to see rationally’ why he continues to be snubbed by England, and reveals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s attitude is ‘not at act.’
The defender made the move to San Siro in January 2021 on an initial loan, making it permanent for €35m just six months later.
“When I first found out about it, I was kind of shocked. The thing that made me realise it was Milan, I spoke to Paolo Maldini. I went to the museum and realised how big the club actually is,” Tomori told ITV Sport.
“It was a Zoom call and I was just looking at him!”
He has become one of the first names on the teamsheet and this summer also reunited with his former Chelsea academy teammate Tammy Abraham, on loan from Roma.
“Outside of the Premier League, you can make a career, learn a new culture, a new way of playing football. It’s definitely a positive and more people are doing it too.”
Players in Serie A are encouraged to learn Italian to help them communicate, so now Tomori and Christian Pulisic are regularly speaking to the media in the local language.
If there is one thing Tomori feels is lacking from Italian cuisine, it’s sticky toffee pudding, but other than that it was a good move to leave Chelsea.
“It was a difficult time when I wasn’t playing. The opportunity came up with Milan, it just kind of happened and it worked out very well. It all fell into place.”
MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 22: Federico Dimarco of FC Inter is challenged by Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 22: Federico Dimarco of FC Inter is challenged by Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 22, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
However, despite his impressive performances at Milan, Tomori continues to be snubbed by the England squad, even when they are lacking good defensive options.
With Thomas Tuchel taking over soon, he is hoping that will change.
“I try not to think about it, I focus on what I am doing here. If I keep on doing what I’m doing, then eventually it’s going to come.
“People ask how I feel about it, but I don’t make the decision. Obviously, I’d like to be there every time and play in a major tournament, which I haven’t done yet and it’s something I still want to achieve. It’s still my goal to be in the World Cup and the Euros.”
Gareth Southgate called Tomori up for the training camp at the 2022 World Cup, but ultimately cut him from the group.
“We spoke. It’s always difficult in these situations to see rationally, at that point you think selfishly, why am I not going? Why is he taking this person instead of me? But the decision has been made and I can’t change it.”
Tomori was teammates with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Milan when winning the Scudetto, but now is working with the Swede as a director instead.
“What you see in the media is really him. It’s not an act. It’s him. I realise why he is like that, why he was the player he was, it’s because he is the most demanding person I’ve ever come across.
“Even in training, you always hear him giving instructions. A top professional, top player, I’ve never heard a ball struck the way he does it.”
Tomori on Milan career
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