OMM Newsroom
Former Milan coach Stefano Pioli said he does not regret moving to Saudi Arabia. The Italian, who wanted to gain experience abroad after leaving Milan, said financial factors and the opportunity to work with Cristiano Ronaldo also influenced his decision to join Al-Nassr.
Pioli said those who have not coached Ronaldo cannot fully appreciate what an exceptional footballer he is. He described the Portuguese forward as a champion focused on scoring goals and as a respectful person. Pioli noted that Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic share an emphasis on honesty in their communication.
The coach said it was important to both players that he follow what he had told them in advance about their playing time. He recalled an incident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when teams were playing every three days, in which he had not told Ibrahimovic beforehand that he would be substituted. Milan went into halftime at 0-0, then scored two or three goals in 10 minutes. Pioli substituted Ibrahimovic, Hakan Calhanoglu and one other player.
Pioli said Ibrahimovic came to see him the next day. The coach said that after the Swedish forward had put his frustration behind him, he acted as if nothing had happened the following day. Notícias ao Minuto reported Pioli’s comments.
Pioli managed Milan from 2019 to 2024, then spent a year in charge of Saudi club Al-Nassr.
