Piatek reveals why he left AC Milan

Former AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek talks about his time at the Rossoneri and reveals the motive of his departure.

In January 2019 AC Milan thought they had finally found the centre forward of the future, a ruthless striker with goal scoring in his veins. Krzysztof Piatek, purchased from Genoa for 35 million euros, had an excellent start with the Rossoneri. The Pole did less well in his second season at AC Milan.

His score in a whole year for Milan counts 16 goals in 41 games. In January 2020, twelve months after his arrival, Piatek chose to change club by accepting the offer of Hertha Berlin. The 26-year-old striker talked for the first time about his sudden farewell and the reasons behind this decision. 

Piatek does not use many words and indicates the triggering reason for his farewell to Milan, namely the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The arrival of the Swedish striker at the beginning of 2020 curbed his ambitions: “With the arrival of Ibra I was no longer playing. I couldn’t think of staying in the bench for 5-6 games in a row. If Ibra plays from the start, he hardly gets substituted. I waited patiently for my turn and when I entered in the Coppa Italia I scored and provided an assist. But it wasn’t enough and they put me back on the bench“.

Hence the idea of accepting Hertha’s offer: “I had lost my place and patience. I wanted to play in the European Championship and therefore I had to play more. I preferred to go to Berlin. Tottenham also wanted me on loan. I could have replaced Harry Kane for a few months but Hertha invested a lot of money to get me“.

Piatek then returns to talking about Ibrahimovic: “I often spoke to him at Milan, when I learned that my Poland would face Sweden at the European Championship. He told me he wouldn’t play, that there were already many young and talented players for this competition. But today he may have changed his mind, I see that he is reborn with all the goals he scores and the excellent performances. Maybe he will be called again by the national team“.

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