Niang: I want to be better than Henry

21-Mar-2013 5:30:00 AM

The French youngster has admitted his fondness for Paris Saint-Germain but dismissed any notion of wanting to leave AC Milan in the foreseeable future

M'Baye Niang has revealed his aim is to be better than France striking legend Thierry Henry.

The AC Milan starlet is predominantly a winger but has played in a central role too, and some have suggested he could eventually mirror the Arsenal and Barcelona icon's switch from the flank to the middle.

The 18-year-old refused to be compared with Henry so soon in his fledgling career, however, but said that someday he would like to exceed his compatriot's achievements.

"No, I am a long way off him yet," he said to Milan's official website. "He achieved so much and I have to work hard, but my objective is to become better than Henry."

Niang joined the Serie A club last summer from Caen and, although he took a few months to break into the first team, he has become a regular starter under Massimiliano Allegri in 2013.

"There is only Milan for me," he said, dismissing speculation he might move away from San Siro in the near future.

"Yes, I was born in Paris and I like Paris Saint-Germain, but I want to win everything here, starting with the Champions League.

"At the start I struggled because Italian football is very tactical and physical, but everything is fine now. Milan are a great club and I love many things about them. Everyone here helps you out. I need to learn a lot from the coach and his staff.

"When I played for Caen, my objective was to join a big club. Today I am at Milan and hope to stay as long as possible."

Niang had a golden opportunity to score an away goal in their last-16 clash with Barcelona which instead struck the woodwork, but he insists that the 4-0 Camp Nou defeat is history in his mind and wants to focus on the league.

"I was unlucky in Barcelona, but I am still young and can make up for it in another game at that level," he added. "The Barcelona game is in the past and I don’t think about it anymore.

"As for in Serie A, I really don’t want to lose against Inter, even if truth be told I want to win against everyone we face."