It seemed obvious that Mattia Liberali would leave Catanzaro in the summer, but he didn’t return to AC Milan, as was hoped.

There was plenty of talk about Liberali re-joining Milan in the summer. With their sale percentage clause, they’d get a nice discount on a players return. It would almost be like he’d spent the season on loan and Catanzaro had generated a nice ‘helping’ fee – like Lecce got for Francesco Camarda. 

However, they weren’t the only party interested and the young Italian eventually headed to their Champions League rivals, Como.

Gerry Cardinale had even tried to secure a deal, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Liberali slipping through the Rossoneri’s fingers.

Liberali ‘sure’ of Milan rejection

He’s spoken a little bit about the decision previously and today, ahead of Como’s Champions League game against Manchester United, he added more context to his reasoning, as MilanPress relayed. 

“Fabregas leaves me calm and at peace; perhaps that’s also the key. The hug? I’m 100% sure of the decision I made; I’m 100% aware of it. I hugged him just for joy. I’ve worked hard, and with perseverance, the rewards come.”

It certainly stings a little that Liberali was so sure of his decision to reject his boyhood club, but he’s also not ruled out a return in the future… It’s not completely dead in the water.