Thiaw is hoping for a lot of playing time with the DFB-Elf – Schalke’s relegation season was the most formative experience

Market value winner in Series A

Malick Thiaw has established himself in the starting line-up in his second season at Italian top club AC Milan and recently increased his market value to 30 million euros. The 22-year-old central defender is also part of the German national team squad under new national coach Julian Nagelsmann and, after his debut in June (0-1 against Poland), is hoping for “a lot of playing time” in the upcoming international matches.

“I’m trying to prove myself at my club AC Milan and also show my best performance with the national team. It’s important for us as a team to play well here against the USA and Mexico and get results,” said the Düsseldorf native Interview with “WAZ”. The fact that Mats Hummels (34), an experienced rival for his position, has returned to the squad is not a problem for him – he is happy to play with the Dortmund player. According to his own statement, coach Nagelsmann got to know Thiaw as “very likeable, very determined, very open”. The 36-year-old “clearly expresses his opinion and makes it clear what he demands from us”.

In the summer of 2022, Thiaw moved from the then Bundesliga promoted team, his youth club, Schalke 04, to Milan, where he made a lasting move into the starting eleven in February 2023 and was no longer pushed out of it – including in the second leg of the Champions League. Semi-finals against local rivals Inter (0:1). “It was unbelievable how quickly everything happened. I came to Milan, stayed patient and then got my chance and took advantage of it,” reflected the national player.

The defensive talent comes with a lot of pressure at Milan – “Before the season, there is no need to set the season goal of winning the Scudetto. “That is simply assumed” – well done. This is partly because he experienced very difficult times at Schalke and his character was strengthened as a result. Thiaw describes his most formative experience of his career so far as “the relegation season with Schalke. We have experienced so many bad things. This can destroy a player or strengthen their character. The latter was the case for me. If you lose a game, you know how to deal with it. Even if it ends up being ten in a row.”

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