DIEGO MOREIRA: FOCUS AND FUN FACTS

The Rossoneri summer has another new face: a promising young wide player ready to make his mark in Italian football after gaining valuable experience at a number of clubs. Diego Manuel Jadon da Silva Moreira - better known simply as Diego Moreira - is the latest addition to Rúben Amorim's AC Milan. Comfortable in several roles on the left flank, he can also operate on the right when required. Despite his young age - he turned 22 on 6 August - he already has significant experience on the international stage, including an appearance at the most recent World Cup. Born in Liège, Moreira comes from a family with strong footballing roots. His father Almami, a former Guinea-Bissau international, was a midfielder for Standard Liège when Diego was born. The footballing connection also extends to his mother's side of the family: the new Rossonero's grandfather is Helmut Graf, who also played for Standard Liège between 1976 and 1982.

After coming through the ranks at the same club as his father and grandfather, Moreira completed his development at Benfica, joining the Portuguese side in the summer of 2020 and signing his first professional contract. In Lisbon, he made his name primarily at youth level, becoming a key member of the team that won the UEFA Youth League in 2022 - beating Juventus in the semi-finals along the way - and the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup. Moreira also made his Primeira Liga and Champions League debuts for Benfica, coming off the bench late on in the qualifying tie against Midtjylland in August 2022. A change of club and country followed in the summer of 2023, when Chelsea brought him to England. He made his first-team debut in August, featuring against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup, before heading on loan to Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1. He made nine appearances across the league and Coupe de France before returning in January 2024, showing glimpses of his ability on the left flank. The first real turning point of his career came in August 2024, when he moved to Strasbourg.

In Alsace, Diego proved not only to be highly versatile tactically but also a player Liam Rosenior was prepared to place his trust in. The coach recognised his talent and used him in a variety of roles: on the left as a winger, wing-back or full-back, while he also occasionally featured as an attacking midfielder or on the right. The result was two seasons full of appearances (76 in total), goals (seven) and, above all, assists (16). His European experience last season also deserves mention, as he played a key role in the Strasbourg side that came close to reaching the Conference League final. At international level, after making a couple of appearances for Belgium Under-15s, Moreira initially opted to represent Portugal - his parents' heritage also made him eligible for Guinea-Bissau and Germany. He progressed through the Portuguese youth ranks all the way to Under-21 level, also featuring at the 2023 European Under-21 Championship.

In spring 2025, however, he decided to switch allegiance and represent his native Belgium. The Red Devils put their faith in him and, by September, he was already making his first competitive appearances for the senior side on the road to the 2026 World Cup, featuring in both qualifiers and friendlies. Diego played an important role at the tournament itself, impressing as Belgium came from behind to beat Senegal in the Round of 32 and sharing a dressing room with Alexis Saelemaekers and Koni De Winter, now his Rossoneri teammates. A dedicated player with a strong work ethic, Moreira looks up to Cristiano Ronaldo. Away from the pitch, his passion for fashion and style is particularly evident on social media, where he goes by "Diegzyy" on TikTok and Instagram. In recent weeks, he got Rossoneri fans excited by training in last season's Third kit, wearing Saelemaekers' number 56. Now he has the chance to make his mark at San Siro, using his talent and versatility to establish himself on AC Milan's left flank.

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