New boy Santiago Gimenez living AC Milan dream ahead of Feyenoord return
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AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez celebrates after scoring a goal in the 2-0 Italian Serie A win over Empoli.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MILAN – Santiago Gimenez is living his childhood dream of being an AC Milan striker, as he prepares to take on his former team in the first leg of their Champions League play-off on Feb 12.
The Mexican returns to the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam barely a week after moving to Italian giants Milan, with his sights set on dumping Feyenoord out of the competition.
The 23-year-old was signed as a replacement for Alvaro Morata on deadline day of the winter transfer window and has already made an impression on their supporters.
Having already set up fellow new arrival Joao Felix on their debuts in last week’s Italian Cup triumph over AS Roma, Gimenez then showed what he can do in front of goal with a classy curling finish which sealed a 2-0 win in his Serie A bow at Empoli on Feb 8.
After those two impressive substitute appearances, he is set to line up against a Feyenoord team in turmoil after the sacking of coach Brian Priske, in what is set to be a red-hot atmosphere.
“There are a lot of conflicting emotions. Honestly, I wanted it to be Milan against Feyenoord because had I stayed at Feyenoord, I would have played against the team I always dreamt of playing for,” said Gimenez.
“But now I’m at Milan it will be great because I’ll be able to see my Rotterdam family and a club I’m really connected to.
“It’s a chance to say goodbye to a team with which I had some wonderful times.”
Gimenez has been a fan of Italian football and a Milan supporter since childhood and was a target for the seven-time European champions in the summer, before they signed Morata instead.
Spain captain Morata has since been shipped off on loan to Galatasaray, while Milan have put €32 million (S$44.8 million) worth of faith in Gimenez after he netted 65 times in 105 appearances for Feyenoord.
“It’s all gone exactly how I wanted,” added the striker.
“I followed Milan as a boy, they were the team that I loved, as I watched the likes of Kaka, (David) Beckham, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, (Andrea) Pirlo, (Gennaro) Gattuso.
“That whole generation of players made the world fall in love with them.”
Gimenez was born in Buenos Aires. But he moved to Mexico as a young boy with his father Christian, who was a professional footballer and also represented Mexico after being born in Argentina.
He will have the chance to represent his country on home soil at the 2026 World Cup held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“There’s no doubt that Argentina is a country where I feel at home, all my family are there... But if I had to choose, I feel more Mexican,” said Gimenez. AFP
