Flamini vows to fight for place at Milan

AC Milan defensive midfielder Mathieu Flamini says he is determined to stay and fight for his place at the club despite failing to establish himself as a first-team regular.

Flamini joined the Serie A giants from Arsenal at the beginning of last season, having only forced his way into the Arsenal midfield in his fourth season at the club after arriving in London from Marseille at the age of 20.

The combative midfielder has lost his place in the France squad since arriving at the San Siro but he insists he has no regrets.

“It was a dream to come here. I had other options when I left Arsenal and I would still have now but my aim is to stay and to win somthing, hopefully this season’s title,” Flamini, who is now 26, told Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport.

This season he has played in 23 out of 33 league matches but most of those appearances have come from the bench as coach Leonardo has often preferred veterans Massimo Ambrosini and Gennaro Gattuso to add muscle to the guile of Andrea Pirlo in the middle of the pitch.

“You’ll have to ask the coach why (I don’t play more). I’ve always trained hard and the new system should help me (a change from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2),” said Flamini, who is half-Italian.

“At Arsenal we also played with two players in front of the defence, myself and Cesc Fabregas. That’s the position I prefer.”

His inactivity over the last two seasons has likely cost him any chance of going to this summer’s World Cup with France but Flamini is not bitter.

“It means I can have a nice holiday in Corsica and America with my family,” he said. “And sooner or later I’ll be back in the squad.”

He is also dreaming of domestic glory, despite Milan trailing Serie A leaders Roma by four points with just five games left.

“I believe, that’s different. We’ll keep going right to the end because the spirit is fantastic in the camp,” he said.

“We’ve let slip too many opportunities, but you never know. Even so, I’ll stay whatever happens. I want to stay here and win trophies.”