Jimenez hints at wanting permanent stay despite Real Madrid clause: “I love Milan” | OneFootball

Alex Jimenez has professed his love for AC Milan, while speaking a bit about the coaches that he has worked under at the club.

Jimenez signed from Real Madrid and fully entered the first team squad at the end of 2024. He has never left it since, with Sergio Conceiçao clearly a fan of him as he continues to get regular starts and appearances.

The issue is that Real Madrid have a say in his future, given they can bring him back to the Spanish capital in the summer by activating the buy-back clause of €9m, or in 2026 for €12m.

As a result, a meeting between the two clubs is reportedly planned for this month, in which CEO Giorgio Furlani will aim for a ‘remodelling’ of the clauses or even a removal.

Jimenez opened up about his career to this point in the latest episode of ‘Homegrown’ on Milan TV, a format that focuses on those who have passed through the youth sector.

How did your path start?

“I started playing when I was little in Madrid, in a small club. Then Real saw me at a tournament and I was seven years old and they took me. I was there for 11 years.”

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Who were your idols?

“When I started training in the first team I was happy, I saw Kroos, Vinicius, many players.”

Then the call from Milan came…

“It was a difficult time at Real, my family and my agent told me that it would be good for me to go somewhere else. When I understood that Milan wanted me I immediately said yes. I love Milan, it will always be in my heart.

“They had me play in the first team, showed me the history of the club. I can’t describe it to you in words, I like everything about Milan: the club, the fans, who are good for us. I like it.”

What do you remember about your debut?

“I remember that it was one of the best days of my life, I thank mister Pioli who gave me confidence. It was incredible. I was a little nervous before the match but I was very hot.

“When I entered the dressing room I started to think about it, I’ve been playing for a long time, I don’t have to be nervous, play as I know how. Then I played a good match.”

Is Theo your idol too?

“I asked Theo for the shirt, he has always been my idol, I like him a lot. He helps me a lot, when I do things badly he tells me to help me. He is a top player but also a top person.”

You missed the game against Real Madrid due to injury…

“There with the Primavera I missed the match against Real. I wanted to play it, 200%. I had been thinking about it for three weeks before, for me it was important because they are the two clubs of my life, but life wanted me not to play it.”

What was it like with Milan Futuro?

“For me it was an experience to play with older people. Mister Bonera helped me a lot. The truth is that since the season started they said that Milan Futuro for a team to go to the First Team. I say that when you work and do things well, everything comes.”

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

What was Fonseca like?

“They gave me confidence, first Fonseca who gave me confidence to play against Genoa in a difficult moment for the team. For me it was a happy moment. It’s a shame the victory didn’t come, it was an important day for the fans too.”

That Supercoppa triumph in Saudi Arabia…

“I didn’t believe it because Conceiçao had already made me a starter against Juve, he gave me confidence from the first moment, I thank him, I like him too much as a coach for the way he works, if you do things badly he tells you: I’m the youngest, I have to listen and work.

“The first thing that comes to mind about the final against Inter is a bad pass at the end of the first half, we conceded a goal. Then when it was 2-0 I understood why I was substituted, but from the bench I wanted to win.

“Then when we scored the first goal I thought ‘we’ll win it, this is ours’. Then I didn’t believe it when the third goal came. I went to Rafa who changed the game.”

Do you have Spanish national team ambitions?

“I’m waiting for the right moment, but it’s clear that I want to play for the national team. It’s my country, it’s a dream to play for Spain.”

Any advice for kids?

“Just don’t think about anything, if you work every day from the beginning to be a top player everything comes with work.”