Yacine Adli is one of the most exciting arrivals at AC Milan this summer, having returned to the club after his one-year loan at Bordeaux. Indeed, the midfielder has caught the attention of everyone in the last week or so.
Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara signed the versatile 21-year-old last summer for a mere €8m, agreeing to send him back to Bordeaux on loan. Adli thus made his first proper visit to Milanello last week, when he began pre-season with the Rossoneri.
As said, based on his first training session with the club, the expectation is rising and Adli is well aware of this fact. Former footballer and current pundit Daniele Adani, speaking to Gazzetta Dello Sport (via SempreMilan.it), has heaped praise on the Frenchman.
“Adli has been my workhorse for three and a half years. I know this because I met him for work reasons when he was still very young. If you like football, you can’t help but fall in love with his elegance and his class on the pitch. Adli is undoubtedly a class player and I’m happy he ended up in the hands of a modern and innovative coach like Stefano Pioli.
“I’ll be clear: Adli is a playmaker for me, in the current sense of the term, because he can be both a mezz’ala and an attacking midfielder. To play in midfield tandem, however, something is missing: the defensive run for example.
“I don’t expect Adli to amaze immediately, he will need time just like Tonali. And then slowly, with calm and above all a culture of work, I’m sure he’ll come out. Milan is a guarantee in this sense,” he stated.
It remains to be seen what Adli’s main position will be at Milan, but most likely CAM or to the left in the attacking trio. Tonight, he will play from start in the Rossoneri’s friendly against Köln and he should play on the left again.
