Emerson Royal had ‘strange feeling’ at Milan: I don’t miss Italy

Brazilian defender Emerson Royal admits he had a ‘strange feeling’ as soon as he joined Milan in 2024 and is glad to have returned to Brazil: ‘I miss Spain and England, not Italy.’

Former Milan defender Emerson Royal spoke about his one-year spell at San Siro in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Brazilian full-back made 26 appearances with the Rossoneri last term, and his time at the club was affected by a serious calf injury that forced him to the sidelines for several months in 2025.

Emerson Royal joined Brazilian side Flamengo last summer, reuniting with other ex-Serie A players such as Danilo, Jorginho and Alex Sandro.

“I already knew Danilo and Alex Sandro from the Seleçao, but we had never played together at a club. I had faced Jorginho when he was at Chelsea, and I really liked his way of playing. I wanted to experience it as a teammate. Working with them is a privilege,” said Emerson Royal.

The Brazilian also played under Antonio Conte at Tottenham; does he still follow the Italian coach?

“When he plays against Milan, yes,” Emerson replied, smiling.

“Antonio taught me a lot, especially in terms of mentality. He talked to me a lot. Sometimes it seemed intense, but I saw it positively. I knew his goal was only to help players improve. He has a strong personality, but we shared some wonderful moments at Tottenham.”

Emerson Royal was often criticised by the fans and the media during his time at Milan, which surely didn’t help him settle in.

“I arrived in Italy with a somewhat strange feeling right away,” he admitted.

“From the start, every time I said or did something, people talked about me more than they talked about Cristiano Ronaldo, but in a negative way. I felt like I had to give double to be accepted and still not be accepted.

“I always felt the trust from the club and teammates, and in fact, I secured a starting spot. The problem was different; the press has enormous influence in Italy, and I didn’t know that at all. What’s said outside is very powerful and affects things from the start.”

Therefore, he decided to leave after just one season.

“It all started with me and my personal request. I talked with my family and agent, and the idea of leaving became a priority. I couldn’t continue with that feeling on me,” he revealed.

“The same thing had happened at Tottenham, but I managed to change my mind. You arrive, people talk, then they don’t want you to leave anymore. It’s always a matter of time and adaptation. Initially, I thought I could do the same at Milan, stay to really improve who I am. But after the injury and several months out, the feeling intensified even more. When I realised my relationship with the environment had worn down, I understood that staying wouldn’t be the right choice.”

Emerson is happy to have moved on and does not miss living in Italy.

“Honesty not. Italy is a beautiful country, Milan are a top club, but I will never feel nostalgic because there’s no reason for me to. I miss Spali, where I was very happy at Betis, and also England, but not Italy.

“Today I feel good and I’m finally happy again. Coming back here after so many years abroad has been special. We are competing in two important tournaments, and one of the reasons I chose to return was to be better known by the people in my country, since I’ve spent so much time overseas. It’s an amazing feeling to be appreciated.”