Van Basten: Italian Talent Key to AC Milan's Success
Marco van Basten believes AC Milan must rely more on Italian players to regain their dominance in Serie A after a challenging period.
Legendary striker Marco van Basten has proposed a solution for AC Milan to reclaim their place among Italy's football elite: investing more in Italian talent. Speaking during Milan’s 125th anniversary celebrations, Van Basten emphasized the importance of combining local players with a winning mindset.
Van Basten, who led Milan to historic victories in the late 1980s, reflected on the team’s iconic success: “The 1989 European Cup final against Steaua Bucharest was extraordinary. It was Milan’s first major international title in years, fulfilling Silvio Berlusconi’s dream of global dominance.”
Discussing the current state of the club under head coach Paulo Fonseca, Van Basten noted: “It’s been hard to see Inter dominate Serie A in recent years, but Milan is a great club with incredible fans and a historic stadium. The team can return to winning ways.”
Van Basten highlighted the significance of a squad built around strong Italian players, referencing Milan’s legendary lineup featuring stars like Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Alessandro Costacurta. He urged the club to rediscover this formula to compete for titles again.
“Milan must focus on developing and promoting Italian talent while maintaining a winning mentality. This blend is key to their future success,” Van Basten concluded.