Months after his departure, Theo Hernandez has still not come to terms with the split. The French full-back has broken his silence to tell his side of the story, even if it means reigniting tensions with AC Milan. A blunt, bitter account that has clearly not gone down well inside the club.
Offensive in tone for a defender, Hernandez insisted in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport that he never intended to leave Milan. “I would never have left. My priority was to stay,” he said, while strongly denying what he calls false accusations about his salary demands. “They said I was asking for outrageous sums to renew, that I was trying to force my way out… but it was all untrue.”
A painful and openly disputed breakup
More seriously, Hernandez described direct pressure from club management. “I deserved better treatment. I didn’t expect this,” he said, before revealing an explicit threat: “When an executive calls you and tells you, ‘If you stay, you’ll be sidelined,’ what can I do? I look for another club.” A heavy testimony that reflects deep disappointment.
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Despite everything, the French international did not completely shut the door on Milan, even mentioning a possible return if “certain people” were to leave. A statement that went down very badly in Lombardy, where the club believes the chapter is definitively closed.
Behind the scenes, Milan stands by a radically different version. Without issuing an official response, the club has made it clear that Theo Hernandez leaves no regrets. Executives point to a player deemed below expectations, lacking commitment, and above all too demanding financially, with requests exceeding €8 million per year. According to them, the defender changed course several times before giving in to Saudi offers and an estimated annual salary of €25 million. Two irreconcilable narratives, a clear fracture, and a divorce now finalized—without nostalgia, but with lingering bitterness on Hernandez’s side.
