Patrick Cutrone is grateful to AC Milan but claims he was sold by his former club because there is a preference for Italian teams to field foreign players.

The one-cap Italy international ended his 12-year association with boyhood club Milan in July after taking up Wolves' offer of a four-year deal.

He came through the Rossoneri's youth ranks and scored 18 goals in all competitions in an impressive breakthrough campaign in 2017-18, but the 21-year-old was less prolific last term and was moved on for a reported 22 million euros during the close season.

"Foreigners are preferred to us," complains Cutrone

Portuguese forward Rafael Leao, 20, was brought in as a replacement and Cutrone believes that move - as well as Moise Kean's switch from Juventus to Everton - is indicative of the way teams operate in Serie A.

3 - Patrick #Cutrone is the third youngest player to score 10+ goals in a single Serie A campaign with #ACMilan (20 years and 137 days in 2017/18 with 10 goals), after Gianni Rivera in 1961/62 and Alexandre Pato in 2008/09. Talent. pic.twitter.com/0NilFy0HLG

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 27, 2019

"Me and Kean in the Premier League? It's always the same story - foreigners are preferred to us," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. 

"For us twenty-somethings, it's hard, but in any case I'd like to emphasise something - I’ll always be grateful to Milan for what they gave me."

Cutrone will be back in Italy this week as part of Wolves' squad for their Europa League play-off first leg against Torino.

The Milan youth product has made four appearances for his new side and is expecting a difficult test in Turin on Thursday.

Patrick Cutrone will be Wolves' new number

pic.twitter.com/nSXTcTshyi

— Wolves (@Wolves) August 8, 2019

"My first impressions of Wolves have been excellent," he said. "I was received very well and I've already settled in. 

"I didn't like living in a hotel, so I've found a house where my best friend has been keeping me company.

"It'll be tough against Torino. They're a good team and there are several similarities between us and them - passionate fans, character, pride, a sense of belonging."