Sam Dalla Bona insists he has no regrets leaving Chelsea for AC Milan.
Now retired, Dalla Bona admits then Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri pleaded with him to stay.
He recalled to TMW: "I stood out in a European Under 16s in Scotland. Gianluca Vialli was in the stands and he noticed me. I was at Atalanta with whom I had made an exceptional youth sector, a bit of a mess was born but the opportunity was not to be missed.
"In England I had fabulous years because I learned so many things and football was wonderful, in a particular atmosphere."
On his move to Milan in 2002, Dalla Bona said: "It was a big challenge and I was convinced to find my space. But there were indeed stratospheric players and in hindsight we should be proud to have played 16 games, even scoring Of course, then I didn't think about it and even the coach Ranieri told me: 'But where are you going, continue here they all love you and I take you into consideration'.
"Chelsea were a good team and growing, but Milan were Milan so how could I say no? Thinking about it I can't say I have any regrets, the choice was mine. And the London experience was beautiful and to be recommended to young people. It is not as easy as it seems, for example many they went back immediately."
