Calabria reveals bitter AC Milan exit: ‘No longer wanted to deal with certain people’

Davide Calabria is continuing his career at Panathinaikos, but feels bitter over how his experience at AC Milan ended. ‘Honestly, I no longer wanted to have to deal with certain people.’

The 29-year-old had spent his entire football life in the Rossoneri jersey, coming up through their youth academy, climbing to the senior squad and even becoming captain.

However, just days after a very public clash with then-coach Sergio Conceicao in January 2025, he was loaned to Bologna for the final six months of his contract.

“Everything has a beginning and an end in life, so it was going to happen sooner or later,” Calabria told Rivista Undici.

“I had hoped it would be later, but I am super proud to have been at Milan for so many years. Not many can say that, especially coming through the youth academy, becoming captain and winning trophies.

“My teammates changed, so did the coaches, directors and club owners, but I remained. I have no regrets about that, I am proud of my experience there. As a child who supported Milan, I never dreamed that I could one day become captain.

“I entered into a Milan squad that was not what the club had been accustomed to, and I left a team that was challenging for the Scudetto and other silverware.”

The turning point was without doubt that public row with Conceicao, which happened on the pitch after the final whistle of their 3-2 comeback victory over Parma.

The pair got into a heated argument and had to be separated by other players, it was to be his final match for the club.

“It ended the way it ended. There were things that hurt everyone really, during a season that was bad due to certain factors,” explained Calabria.

“I think I lost more than anyone from that situation, perhaps I loved Milan too much and struggled to just shrug some things off. Those months were tough, until the bitterness burst out and the decision was made to go our separate ways.

“It had become difficult to handle, we needed to do something. It was not at all my intention to leave Milan. You all know what happened, even if nobody will say it out loud.”

Sergio Conceicao was already their second coach of the campaign after Paulo Fonseca was sacked in December 2024, just months after Stefano Pioli’s dismissal.

“After so many years, it saddened me to leave over some unpleasant incidents,” added Calabria.

“I think those moments rather ruined my image a little, not that I even did anything particularly wrong… I was the captain, I cared too much, and many people would come and let their frustrations out with me. By talking and having respect, you improve, but perhaps that turned against me during that period.

“In any case, I prefer to live and die by my own ideas than with someone else’s. I had to accept it, and honestly I no longer wanted to have to deal with certain people. There were few other options, I could’ve been frozen out of the squad, or I had to leave.”

Calabria joined Bologna on loan and he revealed an anecdote from Rossoblu director Gigi Sartori.

“I was told that Sartori joked with my ex-agent: ‘If he should ever argue with the coach, be known that we are here and ready.’ Well, two days later, you all saw what happened, unfortunately…

“It was really embarrassing and unpleasant, I honestly couldn’t explain it. The situation was quite delicate.”

Milan also gave Calabria very little time to give a proper farewell to what had been his home for decades.

“It all happened so fast, it was quite surreal. I would leave Milanello and never set foot in it again. I really struggled to accept that after so many years, thinking I might never see these people again, that the workers and my teammates were asking me not to go. To the fans, who I consider the best in the world. Never wearing the shirt of the club I love so much again.

“It was all such a tough blow to deal with. When I got the news I had to leave, I had one last tour of the training ground and cried a lot, people were incredulous that it was really happening. I gathered my things and left, after 12 years. It hurt, but I had to accept it so I could move on.”

Calabria got his revenge, as later that season he’d be in the Bologna team that beat Conceicao’s AC Milan to win the Coppa Italia.

At the end of his contract, he joined Panathinaikos as a free agent, but remains a staunch supporter of the Rossoneri.

“This Milan side can challenge for the Scudetto, they finally have someone in Max Allegri who can create and protect a united group, set the solid defensive foundations. Allegri is a winner, he has experience, and having only one game per week certainly helps too. I’d have liked to be coached by him, aside from anything else, his communication style really makes me laugh.”