Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

If you're sat thinking what to have for dinner read an average day in the life of an A.C. Milan player instead. Shopping downtown, and press conference for new player Oguchi Onyewu...just an average day really.

A sunny wake-up call in Atlanta's capital of Georgia - an 8.30am alarm call at Saint Regis Hotel, Atlanta, for the Milan team.

Breakfast then departure for Westminster Prep School, where the morning's intense training session is to be held. There’s a brief flurry of emotions when a Tuscan family now living stateside offer the team a warm welcome: Mum, dad and five kids – all of them rossoneri fans – show up in their A.C. Milan replica kits to meet their idols; there’s time for a quick photo session, a few hugs and kisses (a bit of Italian flavour) before getting stuck into the morning session.

After the physical exercise, and a light meal, head coach Leonardo gives the players three hours free time. The players immediately headed for the Lennox Center, an enormous shopping mall not far from the hotel – for a shopping fix and a stroll around downtown Atlanta. Despite fans asking for autographs and photos, it didn't stop the team's shopping session, returning to the hotel laden with shopping bags (Gattuso and Inzaghi won the prize for best shoppers of the day).

The sun was setting as the team coach pulled up at the George Dome Stadium – an impressive sports complex in the heart of the city – for their evening training session. A.C. Milan’s new signing Onyewu caused a flurry of excitement, a star of the US national side, it was time for his first official press conference. Young, eager cheerful, and still a bit shy meeting his team-mates, Oguchi Onyewu immediately wins everyone over.

Training takes place at dusk rays with 10,000 fans looking on and applauding the players enthusiastically. After the practice match, the ‘Fugee Teams’ arrive: 50 kids aged 10-19 whose families fled countries torn apart by civil wars. In Georgia they have found an association that helps them settle into the States through sport and studying. Kids from Zambia, Congo, Ethiopia, Afghanistan... All united in yelling the names of their heroes, especially Ronaldinho’s. As the players move closer to say hello, there is an overwhelming rush of emotions.

After the torrent of sentiment, time for a shower then back to the hotel for dinner. Finally, a quiet evening for the whole group, chatting and laughing in the garden of the Saint Regis Hotel.

Milan's new player Oguchi Onyewu

Marco Borriello relaxes.

Zeljko Kalak

The team works out

 

Francesca Scarpa

****For more exclusive backstage shots of Milan's summer tour and to read more see***

www.flickr.com/photos/swide/sets

 

http://www.swide.com/luxury-magazine/Faces/Celebrities/Milan-lands-in-Los-Angeles/2009/7/20

http://www.swide.com/luxury-magazine/Faces/Celebrities/Goodbye-California/2009/7/22

http://www.swide.com/luxury-magazine/Faces/Celebrities/Milan-embrace-Beckham-in-Los-Angeles/2009/7/21

 

Source: www.acmilan.com

 

Photo Credits: Stefano Guindani Photography

 

TAGS: milan summer tour acmilan football soccer david beckham la galaxy home depot center rino gattuso kala kaladze gianluca zambrotta andrea pirlo dolce&gabbana d&g stylists stefano guindani leonardo daniele tognaccini