World Cup summer camp shapes Diego Moreira

How the World Cup camp transformed Diego Moreira's status, while he was still adapting at AC Milan, propelling him from a 22‑year‑old youngster to a decisive starter against Senegal (3‑2), and allowed him to showcase his gift, according to Jean‑François Lenvain.

Jean‑François Lenvain has been following Diego Moreira's progress since he was an AC Milan player at 13. He has observed the red Devil's change of status in recent months, between a summer transfer worth €50 million and three starts with the national team.

“Diego has a gift for understanding football‑world situations,” Lenvain emphasizes, noting that the player is only 22. Earlier, during the September‑October gathering, he didn’t get everything right, not yet a starter at Milan and having to digest a change of club, city and culture.

His return to Lombardy was marked by his goal against Inter and three assists, two of them in the derby. Ahead of the World Cup, he was frustrated by not playing more in the warm‑up matches and had a discussion with Rudi Garcia and his staff to understand his status.

A Decisive Summer Camp

This World Cup ultimately became a post‑training camp for him, the best summer university. His rise against Senegal (3‑2) was made effective thanks to what he learned.

Diego Moreira says each departure boosts his confidence at Milan

Lenvain states that there was no “before” or “after” Senegal, but that the “pest”, an affectionate nickname for Moreira, understood that there would be a status change this summer. He adds that of the 90 % sweet things they tell him, he will be part of the 10 % salty ones to make him think.

Diego confirms: “At first, with Jef, you don’t always understand everything. It’s only once you’ve hung up, after the conversation, that you start reflecting on what he told you, that you understand certain things.” Lenvain integrated Moreira into an Art and Sport program with artist Samuel Idmtal, where they co‑create a work and talk for two hours, Lenvain subtly slipping messages that are well received by the red Devil.

Frédéric Bleus said that Diego Moreira, against Senegal, had “made a mess”. The term Discover appears in the source text.

©Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Cameron Vandenbroucke finished third in the Remembrance Run, which gathered more than 5 000 participants in Ploegsteert, saying “I didn’t expect that”.