Stefano Pioli, coach of AC Milan, was enthusiastic about his young French defender, Pierre Kalulu (21) after the victory against AS Roma (3-1), Thursday during the 20th day of Serie A .

The massacre of injuries among the defenders of AC Milan (Kjaer, Tomori, Romagnoli, Calabria) suits Pierre Kalulu (21 years old) well. The young French defender celebrated his sixth start of the season in Serie A on Thursday in the victory against AS Roma (3-1). The former Lyonnais formed a young and experimental hinge with Matteo Gabbia (22). And it held, to the great happiness of Stefano Pioli, Lombard coach, who triggered the character of the international French Espoirs, who did not play in his favorite position (right back).

“He has an incredible personality”

“Kalulu would be ideal as a right-back or in a three-way defense, the technician recalls on DAZN. But he has an incredible personality: he is smart, fast, he is strong. He no longer surprises me, I know him well: he arrived with the lights off, he applies himself, and I’m happy because he was ready like Gabbia against a duo (Abraham-Zaniolo) like that of Roma. “

Kalulu joined Lombardy in 2020 after leaving the Lyon training center where he rejected offers for a first professional contract. This had also scalded a little Jean-Michel Aulas, president of the club. “He had everything to probably succeed in Lyon, he regretted in 2020. But in a year when we were in great difficulty, obviously the coaches and the sports director tend to use, try to implement players who have long experience. “

He had been a little more critical of the chances of success of his former player, a few weeks later, speaking in front of students at a business school. “I have a young player who, last year, was in the France team under 19, he said, referring to Kalulu. He had to sign pro but, at the last moment, he left for AC Milan. Earlier, for another subject, I had the sporting director of AC Milan, Paolo Maldini, whom I know from elsewhere, who told me that he was probably not going to succeed. proposals. “