Juventus Hero Locatelli Believes Destiny Brought Him Back to San Siro

Manuel Locatelli returned to Milan as a foe on Sunday night and took matters into his own hands to inspire Juventus to a 1-0 win at the San Siro. The Italian midfielder’s rare strike settled a heated affair in Lombardy, propelling Bianconeri to their first Serie A victory over Stefano Pioli’s side since January 2021.

Exactly seven years after handing Milan a 1-0 triumph over Juventus as a teenager back on October 22, 2016, Locatelli flipped the script to give the record time an identical win on October 22, 2023. Overwhelmed by emotions after scoring his first goal in Serie A since September 2022, the 25-year-old burst into tears after the final whistle. 

In a bizarre twist of fate, the Milan youth academy graduate returned home, only to put Juventus in the win column at the expense of his childhood club. Locatelli talked to the press after the match, admitting he discussed the possibility of scoring against his former employers on the same date.

“That goal came to mind even before the game, let alone when I managed to score,” the Juventus hero told DAZN, as quoted by Gianluca Di Marzio. “This was destiny. It’s incredible to score on the same day, seven years later, with a different jersey. I knew it was the same date. We talked it over with my family, and I dedicate it to them.”

Locatelli’s first goal of the season fired Juventus within a two-point distance of Serie A leaders Inter, adding fresh impetus to their Scudetto charge.