Cristian Zaccardo who recently joined the Milan giants from Parma in a swap deal that saw Djamel Mesbah move to Parma has admitted that it’s an honor to be playing with AC Milan and a chance that he will get only once in a lifetime. Cristian Zaccardo’s contract expires on the 30th of June 2017 and the deal also involves Rodney Strasser who will play the rest of the season on loan at Parma.
It was his first interview after joining Milan, he said:
“I am very happy and it is an honor to be at such an important club. I will give everything to provide my contribution. I am so proud of the fact Milan were interested in me. The negotiations began two weeks ago with a simple chat and have now become reality, as I am here. You all know me, as I can play in central defence or on either flank. I will give my all. I’m here at the age of 31, after many Serie A games, and already know a few of my new teammates, and I will see the rest at Milanello.”
“Everyone is happy. It’s the chance of a lifetime for me, because I’ve never played in a top team like this. My phone hasn’t stopped ringing for the last few days and a lot of people have congratulated me. It’s a second youth for me. After so many games and a lot of experience at 31 years of age, I now have this chance. I hope I can be useful to the cause and I’ll make sure I’m ready.”
“Around Christmas, my wish was to stay with Parma. Then at the start of January things changed and on Wednesday, the chance was given to me to join and in less than 24 hours things had been sorted out. I played for the Italian national side that won the World Cup in 2006, and then I went to play for Wolfsburg where I won the German title.
Then when I wanted to come back to Italy, there was no interest from the top teams, so I went to Parma. Now I’m proud to have this chance. I chose the number 81 as that’s the year I was born. I’m ready to play”, concluded Zaccardo.”
Zaccardo spent the major part of his career playing with the lower ranked teams and it will be interesting to see how he raises his game while playing for Milan. That being said, he sure can bring in the much needed experience to the back-line and and act as a organizer while they defend set pieces and long balls.
The Rossoneri, having sold Thiago Silva and ended their contracts with long serving players announced that there will be a transition in the club’s philosophies and players aged above 30 will only be given 1 year contracts. However after things started to fall apart from the start of this season, Milan have ended up with the 31, year old Versatile defender. With the news that Ignazio Abate may also leave Milan, Zaccardo has been signed at a vital time.