Yacine Adli has patiently waited for his turn at AC Milan, and he seems set to get his first start of the season this evening against Cagliari.
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La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recall that when Milan told him that he wouldn’t have playing, he worked harder to try and earn a spot, because there are few players in the current squad who love being a part of the Rossoneri like the midfielder.
Adli is now expected to get his first Milan start since an away match against Hellas Verona 346 days ago. Having arrived at Milan a summer ago for €10m following a year back on loan at Bordeaux, last season ended up being a difficult one.
In the 2022 preseason he impressed but Pioli wanted more intense and physical players. Adli was thus limited to just over 100 minutes of playing time and was excluded from the Champions League squad list.
In summer 2023 some teams – Eintracht Frankfurt among them – called to ask for information but a Milan exit did not materialise. Yacine instead resisted and made it clear again that he intends to earn a spot.
In September, Pioli tried him as Rade Krunic’s deputy and – when Krunic gets hurt – he talked about him in his press conference: “Adli will have minutes.”
Yesterday the decision: he will be a starter. Compared to Milan-Verona there will be five changes and Adli is one of the two most interesting. The other is Noah Okafor, who will start as number 9 in place of Giroud, on the bench like Rafa Leao.
Adli who studied at the music academy and played the violin before learning the piano. His nickname ‘The Pianist’ suits him very well.
He created a foundation in his name for kids, he grew up studying Zidane and Juninho Pernambucano, he has a son and a daughter – Isaac and Alya – but on social media he is very reserved.
In the most difficult moment, instead of wallowing in self pity, he invited all his team-mates to lunch at his home, among red and black balloons, inflatables for children and a personalised teqball court.
Today he will have to play quickly, have ideas, not lose balls, be smart in winning back the ball and in transitions. It’s not a small task, but many even neutral fans will look on hoping he does well.
