'My dog..' - AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders draws controversy by naming his pet 'Messi'

Serie A giants AC Milan's footballer Tijjani Reijnders recently garnered some controversy to his name when he revealed that he had named his pet dog Messi out of admiration for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner footballing icon. He asserted that Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world.

"My dog's name is Messi, when I was young I always said if I got a dog I would name him Messi, because for me Messi is the best player in the world." Reijnders said 

Then we decided we would get a dog, and the first thing I said to my wife is if we got a dog we would name him Messi.” he added.

Reijnders to stay at AC Milan

AC Milan is poised to enhance the compensation of Tijjani Reijnders, this season, with plans to secure him at the club until 2029.

Central midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has successfully negotiated a new agreement with AC Milan that will not only extend his stay at the club until 2029 but will also see his current wages doubled, as reported by Calciomercato.

Reijnders has emerged as a key player for Milan manager Paulo Fonseca, with his growing reputation and significance to the team drawing interest from Premier League clubs, including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Reportedly, in November, the Rossoneri expressed their satisfaction with the Dutchman and are eager to secure him with a new contract. The latest update from Calciomercato reinforces this notion, stating that Reijnders' current annual salary of €1.7 million will be increased to €3.5 million, along with bonuses tied to individual and team performance objectives.

With his future firmly secured, Reijnders is poised to be the catalyst needed to transform the fortunes of a struggling Milan team. The 2021-22 Serie A champions currently sit in eighth place in the league and have managed just one win in their last five matches. It’s time for a turnaround, and Reijnders is ready to lead the charge.