Gennaro Gattuso: 400 matches with the Rossoneri, celebrated with the captain's armband

Here we have the message from AC Milan to Gennaro Ivan Gattuso:

A bulldog, a totem, a gladiator, a lion. There are no more ways to define you. But perhaps in the end only the word 'Rino' is necessary to describe everything: the man, the soul, the pride, the heart, the muscles and the lungs. 'Rino': four letters which, behind their apparent simplicity, hide an immense significance for the Rossoneri people.

Because you, Rino, are Milan. You have shown it in every second of every match: you are the image, enthusiasm, grit and passion of this club which cannot do without you on the pitch or off it. And, finally, yesterday at Siena you managed to achieve a target you have followed a long time, and in a special way: you made your 400th appearence with the Rossoneri with the captain's armband.

You were dreaming about this objective for a long time, we know it, and we know you well. Well, it has arrived. And we are sure that for you it will only be a starting point of a season of revenge, very deserved after last season's suffering, after all the effort you made to recover from the surgery to your knee ligaments, after a spring period spent sweating like a madman, fiercely concentrated on your return on the pitch, and after a whole summer spent working.

What will the year be like, Rino? Difficult for the team, because everyone is waiting for us, convinced they will look at us from above. You admitted this yourself without diplomacy, as usual. And probably it will be a difficult year also for you. Because the competition is strong and everyone wants to play. Especially you. You showed it yesterday at Siena when you were substituted: there was no polemic, we understood, there was only desire to continue playing. This honors you.

As fans we can't wait to embrace you again at San Siro in an official match: we don't see you stepping on our stadium's pitch since 7 December, it's been an infinity. Fortunately the derby is close. You asked for enthusiasm and warmth from the fans: our stadium, our home, our people are already calling for you. Do you hear it? It's all for you. You deserve it, champion.