Current AEK Athens striker Marko Livaja spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of tonight's Europa League match against Milan at San Siro. "I am a fan and love Inter. I started there and scored my first goal at the San Siro. I had to leave to grow. At 18 years old, it is difficult to play in a team so large. But Inter remains in my heart and I have one more reason to look for a goal at Milan. " 

 

"At age 16, as far as I had not yet moved to Inter, Milan tried to sign me. I was already in Milan to talk to the sporting director, Ausilio, but then I returned to Croatia because the contract with Hajduk had not yet expired and I could not sign with a new club. Milan started calling me and above all to offer me much more money.”

 

Regarding his Croatian counterpart on Milan Nikola Kalinic:

"We know each other well.We were both in Split but in the Hajduk youth groups our paths did not cross because he is older. He’s great, I follow him carefully like all the other Croatians living here in Milan. It's still a bit my city and I'm so happy to go back. I did so much in my career, from Italy to Russia, from Switzerland to Spain. But in Athens I'm fine and I feel I can stay for a long time. In Europa League we play very well and Milan will notice it. In our own way, we know how to be strong.”