Philippe Mexes: My future is AC Milan

Mexes had initially been overlooked by Coach Filippo Inzaghi this term, but has featured in recent weeks, even being handed the captaincy for Sunday’s Milan derby.

The French defender’s contract expires at the end of the current season, but the former Roma man says he’s not thinking of leaving, and stands by his decision to stay at San Siro this summer.

“I don’t know if I was out of the team because I refused a transfer this summer,” Mexes reflected in an interview with Corriere della Sera.

“There were no specific offers. I discussed the possibility with Milan, but not in depth. I didn’t want to leave in the summer anyway.

“I haven’t made an issue of money, even if it’s true that I have a good contract.

“And to be honest, why would I bother to leave Milan after winning my place back under [former Coach Clarence] Seedorf?

“I wasn’t playing when he first came in either.

“It’s definitely true though that the club bought players in my position to try and get rid of me.

“Inzaghi was clear from the beginning, he said I’d have less chances because there were a lot of central defenders and players younger than me.

“Rami was signed permanently, and they signed Alex who is the same age as me. It was like a slap in the face.

“The first time I wasn’t in the squad, at the Trofeo TIM, I had a discussion with the Coach, it was hard for me to accept.

“I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to go around saying I was better than this or that. But then over the weeks, even though I wasn’t playing the Coach started pointing to me as an example.

“He said that despite my age and career, I was showing the group how to work. That sign of respect gave me some hope.

“I don’t want controversy, or to play the victim, but if you turn up and show your worth then the club must act if they’ve acted in the right way.

“Only they know if they feel embarrassment after I’ve played two good games. Do you know what my goal is now? To embarrass people who said bad things about me or said I was finished.

“Where do I see myself in the future? At Milan.”

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