Rossoneri Round-up for 17 June: Caldara on Maldini: ‘I feel that he trusts me’

After a lost season, Mattia Caldara is ready to get back to work and playing for Milan. The central defender was a key part of the deal that sent Leonardo Bonucci back to Juventus, but thanks to two significant injuries, Caldara barely played last season for the Rossoneri. After some impressive seasons for Atalanta, Caldara was supposed to form a great partnership with Alessio Romagnoli for both club and country, but it didn’t happen last year at Milan.

Caldara told Gazzetta dello Sport:

I’m getting stronger and fitter; I’m back out training, jogging, sprinting and doing strengthening exercises.

Paolo Maldini has always had time for me, and we talk a lot. When we do, I feel that he trusts me. Having a legend like him around is a great boost for the club.

I’ve missed playing for Milan and Italy a lot, Roberto Mancini only calls up players that deserve it and I want to prove that I deserve a place in his squad.

With all of the talk of Milan bringing in new defenders in the transfer window, it would almost be worth the club waiting and seeing what kind of shape Caldara is in and if he’s ready to go in preseason. Despite some dodgy performances, the Milan defense was usually pretty solid, despite Caldara’s absence, so perhaps the money can be spent elsewhere, like on some new midfielders.

On to the links.

AC Milan and Italian Football Links

Could Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira be on his way back to Italy, ending up at Milan? [AC Milan Offside]

Milan officially appointed Paolo Maldini as Technical Director and Zvonimir Boban as Chief Football Officer. [AC Milan Offside]

Could Milan pull off a deal for AS Roma’s Kostas Manolas? [AC Milan Offside]

Maurizio Sarri has officially been named as manager of Juventus after leaving Chelsea. [Black White & Read All Over]

Italy shocked Spain in a come-from-behind win in the U21 Euros. [Football-Italia.net]

World Football Links

After a mixed season on loan at Leeds United, how will Manchester City’s Jack Harrison do this season if he goes back to Elland Road? [Through It All Together]

The United States beat Chile 3-0 at the Women’s World Cup. [BBC.com]

What we learned from Mexico’s 7-0 win over Cuba in the Gold Cup? [FMF State of Mind]