Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

The Rossoneri’s enormous global appeal means that despite defeat on the pitch, off it they are the ones that drive the US fans wild. Highlights of a night of disappointment and great emotions.

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Morning training again at Westminster Prep School and Onyewu officially starts work with the rest of the players. Beaming a big smile and brimming with enthusiasm on his first day in a Rossonero shirt. It’s match day so training is fairly easy: they go through the final preparations and then have lunch all together. The afternoon is spent resting because the match against Club America is drawing close. Before their siesta, Ambrosini, Onewu and Kalac take some time to be interviewed by CNN. Loads of American TV channels have been doing interviews on this trip. There’s so much interest in our boys. Departure for the stadium is scheduled for 5pm and all the players are down punctually for the 4pm snack: fruit, toast, yogurt, freshly squeezed orange juice, and then we’re off. With a police escort, heading for the Georgia Dome. The city is already draped out in yellow and in red-and-black. Atlanta has welcomed this opportunity to host A.C. Milan and the inaugural World Football Challenge with open arms. Lots of fans are walking around town in their bright coloured shirts. As we approach the stadium we go past the Milan Park, where children and families are playing and having fun.


One hour to kick-off and at the Georgia Dome a fantastic party atmosphere has built up. This is what we will remember most of this evening. Football still hasn’t taken off completely in the United States but Americans are getting more and more passionate about it. The proof can be seen in the more than 53,000 fans that have turned up at the stadium. Animated, warm-hearted fans sing and chant from the first to the last minute. But the biggest emotion of all comes during the national anthems before the game, when the colours of the US and Italian flags light up the electronic boards around the stadium. The players enter the pitch. With them are 22 adorable kids as mascots. Storari picks up the youngest girl: he’s so huge while she is tiny! But the little girl doesn’t stop talking to him for a second throughout the opening ceremony. It’s a charming scene!



The teams take their places on the field. It’s incredible to see so many A.C. Milan fans here on the other side of the ocean. They’re all kitted out in red and black and lots of them have their faces painted too, just like on special occasions. They kick off. The game is a long, hard-fought battle to the end. A.C. Milan 2 Club America 3. We go home with a defeat, and there’s disappointment and a little frustration on the players’ faces as they leave the dressing-room.


Tassotti and Leonardo in Dolce & Gabbana

§The first ones out are as the usual ones: Storari, Favalli, Antonini and Oddo. Wearing slightly long faces, but they soon relax again as they start chatting. Then the rest of the players come out. We wait for the coach to finish his interviews then set off for the hotel. But Atlanta is gridlocked so it takes longer than usual. By the time they get back, the players are starving. Fortunately chef Michele Persechini has already got everything ready to feed the hungry mouths. After dinner, it’s out into the garden of Saint Regis to wind down before bedtime.

Francesca Scarpa

Editing: Giuliano Federico

Source: www.acmilan.com

Photo Credits: Stefano Guindani Photography

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TAGS: milan summer tour leonardo tassotti onyewu ambrosini georgia dome dolce&gabbana d&g