Krzysztof Piatek surely made his name in the winter transfer after netting three goals in his first three shots on target for Milan. After a record breaking start to his Serie A campaign earlier this season with Genoa, the Polish striker completed a €35m move to The Rossoneri which saw Argentine striker, Gonzalo Higuain go the other way. Even Piatek could not quite believe what was happening, where he was and who he was surrounded by, though it was reality and not a dream.
Only last year he was playing in Poland with Cracovia and within a year he is playing for one of the biggest clubs in Italy. “Just sitting here next to legends like Maldini and Leonardo is a huge honor,” Piatek admitted that the state of art facilities at Milan alone had left him in “a state of shock”.
“There are six pitches, two heated, one artificial, two gyms, kitchen, dining room; each player has his own room. Everything is of the highest standard,” Piatek exclaimed in a recent interview that he gave to the media.
Piatek scored a double to brush past Napoli in the Copa Italia and also netted the equalizer at the 1-1 draw against Roma last weekend. Piatek’s Gunslinger celebration had already become famous amongst his team mates and the Milan fans who praised him on social media after his dazzling performance against Napoli. His team mate and Chelsea loanee, Bakayoko mimicked the celebration after the winning goal at the Coppa Italia.
Such was his level of amazement that Piatek was dumbfounded when Andriy Shevchenko came to chat with him before Milan’s Serie A clash with Napoli. The Poland striker could hardly contain his joy after being asked for a photo by Clarence Seedorf. As he has got himself accustomed with The Milan faithful, Coach Gennaro Gattuso had nothing but praises and hope on him. a man who has steeped in the club’s traditions, Gattuso admits Piatek is a brilliant talent but has a long way to go. “He has only just joined but I like him already. He only says four words. He does not get lost in chatter.”
When he joined Milan from Genoa in the winter, an ambitious Piatek asked for the No. 9 shirt vacated by departing Gonzalo Higuain. His request was rejected by the Rossoneri.
“It has to be a reward for the player who deserves it, to follow in the footsteps of Filippo Inzaghi and Marco van Basten. I was told that I must prove myself first.” Piatek explained about what was being expected of him, when he made the move.
Well, He could not have hoped for a better start. Piatek, 22 has scored three more goals than Ronaldo, 19 even though he has appeared less in six games. In addition, Piatek’s minutes-to-goal average is superior to not only Ronaldo but also those of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski.
“He is a finisher but also good technically. He’s 23 years old, but he can still improve so much as a player for Milan in Serie A and he has plenty of room to do so,” Gattuso said, as he concluded his comments.