Alex Jimenez refuses to rule out Milan return despite being snubbed for no.2 shirt
AFC Bournemouth full-back Alex Jimenez has refused to rule out a potential return to Milan at some stage in the future, despite revealing his frustration at being denied the Rossoneri no.2 shirt during the end of his time in San Siro.
Jimenez joined Milan on an initial loan deal from Real Madrid in 2023 before having that move made permanent in 2024. The Spaniard made a decent impression during his time in the Rossoneri first-team in 2024-25, but was then sold to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League during the summer transfer window that followed.
Jimenez has sat down to give an honest account of his Milan departure in an in-depth interview with Gianluca Di Marzio, released on Tuesday.
Jimenez open to Milan return despite shirt number snub
During his talk with Di Marzio, Jimenez revealed that there were several reasons why he decided to leave Milan in the summer of 2025. Among them was the fact that he had asked to wear the no.2 shirt for the 2025-26 but was refused and told that he was not yet mature enough.
“At the beginning of the season, I asked for the no.2 shirt. I wanted it because of the tradition of great full-backs,” said Jimenez. “They told me no, that I wasn’t ready and that I was too immature. They were wrong. From there, it’s true, I lost concentration and arrived late a few times.”
Jimenez claims that there were ‘various situations that I didn’t appreciate’ during the end of his Milan spell, and says that he wasn’t given enough ‘responsibility’.
There was also an unfortunate incident when a screenshot of a text message that Jimenez had sent was leaked online, appearing to show him calling Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri a ‘sh** coach’.
“It was rubbish, I don’t think Allegri is a ‘sh** coach’ and his history proves that. I was coming out of a game, I hadn’t played and I was angry, I chose the wrong person to send that message to,” Jimenez admitted.
“From day one, I apologised to Allegri, I didn’t think about what I was writing. He accepted my apology.”
Still, despite these unfortunate incidents, Jimenez has not ruled out a potential return to San Siro at some stage in the future.
“I’m focused on Bournemouth now, I’m happy and I’m playing well. But of course, I loved Milan and I will never close the doors to a club that gave me everything. My being here and playing in the Premier League is also thanks to Milan. Only time will tell.”