The Armenian midfielder once again proved in the match against Parma that even at 37 years old, he remains a consistently reliable player.

Mkhitaryan delivered an excellent performance last weekend, providing an assist and even attempting an overhead kick that left Marcus Thuram, then on the bench, mesmerized. Mkhitaryan once again demonstrated his value as a "utility player" against Parma, and as La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote today, he is a "safe and dependable choice." He is a guarantee for the team.

"This summer, before deciding to play one last season, he had considered retiring from football," the article stated. What ultimately made him stay was a long conversation with Chivu, who did not want to lose the Armenian midfielder's experience and midfield intelligence. He also knew he could rely on him to maintain balance in the dressing room: with a midfield of seven players, Mkhitaryan understood that he might experience periods of reduced playing time, but he would always be ready when called upon—just like against Parma."

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