Sassuolo midfielder Manuel Locatelli has spoken of his 'devastating' departure from AC Milan.

The Italy international left the Rossoneri to join Sassuolo in 2018.

“In my first training session at Milan, [Riccardo] Montolivo told me to mark Kakà. I asked myself where I was," Locatelli told Sassuolo's official channels.

“After that, I trained thinking that everything would have gone well.

“I cried in an interview after I had scored my first goal in Serie A and when I returned to the dressing room, my teammates beat me up. [Luca] Antonelli joked, saying, 'now girls will think you are pretty.'"

On being told he was no longer wanted, Locatelli continued: “I was sitting on a bench in Milanello and directors told me they didn't need me anymore. It was devastating, but it helped me because I needed a change.

“The firsts impact with Sassuolo was not easy, the training centre was not the best, but people working there are great.

“Boateng hugged me and told me to prove who I was. I had the feeling there was a special dressing room."