Andriy Shevchenko has offered a warm reminder of how deeply Milan and Italy still matter to him, saying both remain "always in my heart" as Italian football goes through a difficult phase.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 49-year-old former Ballon d'Or winner spoke with the kind of calm authority that comes from having lived through some of the most demanding days in Serie A. His message was simple: Milan is still his club, Italy still feels like home, and those around both should not lose perspective.
The timing matters. Italy have been trying to move on from a run of disappointment that has seen them fail to qualify for three consecutive World Cups since 2018, while the national team is also going through a generational transition with fresh call-ups and debutants coming into the picture. Milan, meanwhile, sit fifth in Serie A after five matches, a position that reflects a season still waiting for clarity.
Shevchenko's message to Italy
Shevchenko did not dress it up as nostalgia. He made the point directly: "Milan is always in my heart, and I will always be their fan. And Italy is always in my heart too; it's my second home. I don't say it to please anyone, but because it's true."
That matters because his connection to Italian football is not casual. He remains one of the most recognisable names to have worn the Milan shirt, and his voice still carries weight when the conversation turns to the Azzurri and their place in the game.
He also offered encouragement to Italy at a moment when patience is required. "Don't complain too much; you will get through this moment. Appreciate your history and remember that you have so much talent within; you just need to change a few things, and you'll start again. You also have the right people to do it," he said.
Why the context matters now
The backdrop is one of uncertainty, but not hopelessness. In April 2026, Gennaro Gattuso departed and Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri took charge, another sign of how seriously the challenge is being treated. Italy are trying to reset while carrying the burden of expectation that comes with their history.
There is still football to be played. On October 5, Italy were scheduled to conclude the international window against Turkey, while Milan were due to visit Sassuolo on October 11. Those dates sit inside a wider period in which both club and country are trying to steady themselves and build momentum.
Shevchenko's comments do not solve any tactical or structural problems on their own. What they do is underline how much is still at stake emotionally for someone who knows the standards of Milan and the pressure that comes with representing Italy. In that sense, his message is both affectionate and practical: the history is there, the talent is there, and the next step is to turn that into something more stable.
