Ahead of the Milan-Benfica match, Taarabt, who has played for both teams, said in an interview that Amorim has an outstanding demeanor and is very direct in his actions. He also said that at Tottenham Hotspur, Modric called him Zidane, and at Milan, Balotelli said he was like Neymar.

A simple question, what are your impressions of this Milan team?

I knew Amorim since his Benfica days, although we were never teammates. He is a top coach: he has an outstanding demeanor and is very direct in his actions. If he needs to exclude a player from the squad, he won't hesitate to do so, saying exactly what he thinks. Before he signed with Milan, I heard rumors that he might return to coach Benfica. In my opinion, he will eventually return to lead Benfica. I think he's a bit like Gasperini; for him, the team always comes before the individual.

Who is your favorite Rossoneri player?

Diego Moreira is my friend. I met him at Benfica, and he can even speak Moroccan Arabic, which he learned from his mother's partner. I talked to him before he joined Milan. I told him: "Diego, you're going to a great club. You have to be able to handle the pressure, the public scrutiny here is no small matter." He already knew all this. He's a humble kid, always smiling. In his free time, he likes to dance, and his dreadlocks make him instantly recognizable.

Let's talk about him, what position does he truly fit?

He is a right winger with incredible running intensity, covering the entire flank. Under Amorim, he will only continue to improve. His brace against Lazio was just an appetizer for the exciting performances Milan fans are about to witness. I guarantee you, he is very strong.

What about Gonçalo Ramos?

He's also a very good friend of mine. I haven't spoken to him recently, but he's a talented player. However, I'm not sure if he's a natural number nine. Back at Benfica B, he played as a winger, driving forward with strong impact. After coming to Milan, I feel he struggles with holding up the ball with his back to goal. He can play as a second striker and is willing to give his all for the team. In the match against Juventus, he seemed isolated in the box, but I believe with time, Amorim can fully unleash his value.

You were also teammates with Modric at Tottenham Hotspur...

He used to call me "Zidane" back then. I was 18, and one time Luka told me that my playing style was very similar to Zidane's. It's hard to describe that feeling coming from a future Ballon d'Or winner.

Let's change the subject and talk about the opponent. What kind of Benfica will be visiting San Siro?

Benfica has changed a lot over the years, and the club level is no exception. Rui Costa has only won the league title once since becoming president. Fans value the league most, with European competitions coming second. European competitions are more for developing young players, who are then sold for high prices.

Which players are worth paying special attention to?

Pavlydis, I think he will struggle in European competitions. He scores a lot, but there's too much of a gap between the strong teams and the rest in the Portuguese league. I absolutely love Prestianni: this Argentine talent has brilliant dribbling skills and can score. I need to observe Sudakov more. He has good technique, but lacks mobility. However, in tight spaces, playing behind the striker, he can create threats. Rafa Silva is like my brother, he's severely underrated. Excellent vision, creative. I played alongside him, and he loves Benfica more than anyone. He even turned down an offer from Manchester United. Also watch out for Barreiro, this midfielder can run and organize. In my judgment, he will be sold for a high price in two or three years. Milan is stronger overall and is the favorite for this match. The Benfica with Nunez is a thing of the past.

Both teams like to control possession. What kind of match do you expect this to be?

When I played for Benfica, I realized one thing: they are used to playing with risk. When building up from the back, they allow for mistakes and don't get heavily criticized for every error; it's part of the game. Italian football is completely different; one mistake and you're lambasted. I told Moreira this as well.

What about the Benfica coach?

I admire Marco Silva; he's experienced and very good at adapting tactics to the opponent. The overlapping runs of the full-backs creating wide overloads will be a weapon Milan must guard against. Also, be careful of counter-attacks: this Benfica team has extremely strong vertical progression.

Let's delve into your past. In 2014, you were on loan at Milan for six months, but the club didn't exercise the buy-out clause. What was the reason?

Inzaghi didn't want to keep me, it's that simple. During that period, I was the best performer on the team, with 4 goals and 2 assists. I say this with full respect for Robinho, Kaka, and Balotelli, who were all excellent players. Seedorf really liked me, we were almost like father and son. I still remember the first leg of the Champions League against Atlético Madrid, I played incredibly well in that match. I thought the club would keep me, but it didn't work out, and I fell into depression during that time. Plus, not being able to transfer to Paris Saint-Germain that year, these two things are the biggest regrets of my career.

It's always been said that you have a rebellious personality, especially considering your outstanding talent.

Nobody has seen me on the training ground. I could do rainbow flicks and double-touch feints, driving Mexes crazy. Balotelli even said I was like Neymar. But there is one thing: during a game, if I didn't want to be substituted but the coach took me off, I would confront him right there. But my nature has always been very kind. Off the pitch, I really know how to have fun...

How do you usually amuse yourself off the pitch?

Go to restaurants, discos. In Milan, after a Sunday game, we would go to nightclubs. We'd even run into players from other teams there, those were happy times.

There were rumors that you once grabbed Kaka by the neck, is that true?

It was just an internal training match, attack against defense. I didn't pass the ball to Kaka, and then he yelled at me for several minutes, refusing to stop. In a fit of temper, I reached out and grabbed him by the neck. I lost my temper for just a moment. In the end, we apologized and reconciled.

And Abate often yelled at you...

He talked a lot. Sometimes Seedorf played me as a right winger, and Abate was the right-back. He kept nagging: run this way, run that way, attack, defend... One time I couldn't take it anymore and told him: Shut up! He wasn't targeting me, but he was really annoying on the field. Even so, Abate himself is a great person.

What was your experience at Benfica like?

It wasn't smooth. I joined in 2015, but for two consecutive years, I hardly had any playing time. I was 5kg overweight at the time, and head coach Rui Vitória didn't like me, he wouldn't even greet me. I was also quite rebellious back then. After that, I was loaned to Genoa, and when I returned to Benfica, I could only play for the B team. I still had three years left on my contract. Later, things took a turn: he thought highly of me, went directly to Rui Costa, and said he wanted to bring me into the first team.

Later you went to the UAE, where you ended your career.

In 2021, Rui Costa and I made an agreement: if the team got past the Champions League play-offs, he would let me leave for free at the end of the season. We defeated Eindhoven, and at the end of the season, he kept his promise and let me go. I was 32 at the time, and they offered me a lucrative contract. Also, being a Muslim made it easier for me and my family to make that choice.

Are there still technical attacking midfielders like Taarabt in football today?

Today's players are all physical monsters, they just run relentlessly.

Why did you decide to retire?

Last December, I tore my ACL while playing for Sharjah. At that moment, I decided to end my playing career; my 37-year-old body couldn't handle it anymore. I currently live in Marrakesh, but I will soon move to Wales to get my coaching license.

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