Ardon Jashari will almost certainly be the most expensive signing of AC Milan’s summer window, and he has the perfect mentor.
When it comes to player development, it is often natural to think only about the impact of a head coach in overseeing growth. However, with someone like Luka Modric now at Milan, he will impart plenty of wisdom too.
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The ideal mentor
As Corriere della Sera (via MilanPress) highlights this morning, in Serie A we see Modric alongside Jashari, Dybala alongside Soulé, and Dzeko alongside Piccoli. Until recently, Lucca also shared the attack with Lukaku, before the former Inter player’s further injury.
This is the Italian football scene today, made up of promising youngsters and experienced leaders. And that’s not a limitation at all: instead it could actually be a factor that allows these talents to take a big leap forward.
Jashari, a talent for whom the club have invested around €40m between fixed fees and bonuses, has already confided how extraordinary it is to share the pitch with Luka Modric. After the Coppa Italia debut on Sunday, he said: “Playing with Luka is incredible.”
The Croatian – who will soon turn 40 – has nothing left to prove, but his mere presence, his movement, and his ability to read the game are a precious asset for his teammates. Just as Nils Liedholm once called Schiaffino ‘pure intelligence’, today Modric can represent the same role model.
Sure thing. Modric is just like Pirlo or Xavi, that is, he’s one of those incredibly gifted midfielders, that can almost singlehandedly raise the squad level.