Barely a month on from the sensational deal that saw Mattia Caldara join AC Milan and fans are still reeling from the news. Milan fans couldn’t be happier to have plucked the 24-year-old from the clutches of rivals Juventus, while the Bianconeri faithful continue to bemoan the player’s departure. The same feeling is reflected in a recent interview with former Juventus chief Luciano Moggi who used more colourful language to describe the departure of Caldara. Now with a starting spot against Roma at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza around the corner, here is what we know about the tall, strapping defender from Bergamo.
Following in the footsteps of some of football’s greatest defenders, Caldara already has a lot in common with the likes of Paolo Maldini and his self-confessed idol Alessandro Nesta. Throughout his hugely successful career, Maldini was regarded as one of the ‘gentlemen’ of the game who conducted himself in a humble, respectful fashion. Off the field Maldini shirked the limelight for a private life orientated around his family, endearing himself to fans with the glowing image of a dedicated husband, father and club captain.
Caldara has demonstrated a similar attitude that places greater significance on time with his family above all else. Never one to pass up the opportunity for a bit of home cooking, in particular, his Mother’s crepes, Caldara is at his most comfortable when surrounded by family and friends. His girlfriend, Nicole Nessi, herself from Bergamo, has been a big part of Caldara’s life for a number of years and has in fact been studying in Milan. In this sense, the move to Milan has not only brought him closer to home but also closer to Nicole.
Another quality that Caldara shares with the likes of Nesta is his dedication to studying or recognising the benefits of analysing performances. Away from the pitch Caldara has always ensured an opportunity outside of football be available should circumstances change, performing well at school and showing a fondness for numbers. The former Atalanta man has expressed a desire to continue to develop beyond the realms of football, specifically a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Management.
Nesta was known for dedicating hours to watching recordings of his own performances in an effort to stamp out mistakes and errors. Forever a student of the game who sought perfection on the field, Caldara could learn a lot from Nesta in applying his own propensity toward learning and studying to his own performances. His dominant style of play where the thought of claiming the ball defiantly from an opponent in the middle of the field comes naturally, Caldara could be a shining example to the rest of the team’s defence.
Ultimately, however, the 24-year-old is under a lot of pressure to succeed at Milan and be an effective partner for Alessio Romagnoli in the defence. In this regard, it is unsurprising that coach Gennaro Gattuso saw fit to overlook Caldara in favour of Mateo Musacchio for the team’s opening Serie A match against Napoli. The thought of Caldara floundering against a rampant Napoli side with the full backing of the Stadio San Paolo would send shivers down the spine of many a Milan fan.
While this decision doesn’t necessarily betray an element of mistrust from Gattuso, it does highlight the importance of ensuring his passage into the starting line up be a smooth one. Gattuso needs Caldara to be exceptional for the whole season and needs to allow the defender to acclimatise to his surroundings and get up to speed. A shaky start would be just as unhelpful for Gattuso as it would be for Caldara. With big shoes to fill in the shape of Leonardo Bonucci, Caldara will know the importance of getting it right on the big day.
Caldara is also someone who could potentially buy into the kind of football Gattuso is wanting to play. With familiar faces in Franck Kessie, Andrea Conti, Gianluigi Donnarumma and the aforementioned Romagnoli around him it could be the perfect fit. Content with the ball at his feet and even more comfortable storming in from corner kicks the threat Caldara poses could be game-changing. Perhaps the most crucial aspect for Caldara will be making his presence felt – where he is in his element on the pitch.
Milan have sought long and hard for a true student of the game, a champion they could call their own. A player who values humility and self-preservation over extravagance and uproar. Milan may have it in Caldara.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com