All the noise during the summer window suggested that Yacine Adli would leave AC Milan because he wasn’t a big part of the plans, but the midfielder had other ideas.
During his column for MilanNews, Antonio Vitiello speaks about the ‘personal revenge’ that Adli is enjoying. He waited over a year and a half for his chances but he is now a trusted option for Stefano Pioli and feels a bit like a new signing.
The 2024 version of the Frenchman is really convincing, because he has learned to play with more awareness and greater conviction in what he does, as seen with his fantastic goal against Roma on Sunday night.
How could he have grown without playing? It’s difficult to improve just with training because you also need match experience, and Adli had very few chances in his first year with the Rossoneri, so much so that he was on the verge of leaving several times.
During the January transfer window last year and also the summer mercato, Adli ‘rejected any proposal’ to stay at Milan. For two windows in a row he had the opportunity to go away to play more but he always said no.
He insisted that he could make it with the Rossoneri, worked on himself and seized the opportunity, making the most of it.
See, this guy. He knows how to dream and how to work hard to make it happen.
He doesn’t have 1% of the raw talent Leao has, but he has the right mentality instead. Which is a shame really, if he had just third of the talent Leao has, we would have the next Rui Costa on our hands.
Let’s not underplay his talent. He was always very well regarded as a young player in France. He has had to wait and improve himself to get his chance. Now he has, with consistent game time who knows how good he can be.
A player with his mentality is far more likely to succeed at the top than a player like Leao who is already focused on his rap/fashion career despite being only 24 and miles from filling his potential.
I know. I’m just frustrated with whole Leao BS. Such a talent, wasted. Heartbreaking.
Adli on the other hand, I am rooting for him with all my heart.
I also hope Leao proves me wrong, but I doubt he has the mentality to do it.
Leao is now in his prime years, not a young prospect.
He has and will have some stellar performances, when he feels like it.
But as each game goes by with another lazy performance, his legacy and career slump lower.
This is his time, now, not next season, not in future. If he wants to achieve anything or leave any legacy he needs to perform NOW.
I cannot see any top team paying 150m for him except maybe Paris who will be under pressure with Mbappe leaving. Those shoes are too big and too good for Leao to fill. He’ll probably end up on the bench picking up his pay check and going to fashion shows
He should realise the fashionistas will drop him faster than the footballistas
Like I said heartbreaking. Such a waste.
Yeah, he took it personally, we can see his face when listening to Curva Sud after losing 0-2 by Spezia last year.
“Which is a shame really, if he had just third of the talent Leao has, we would have the next Rui Costa on our hands.”
Or imagine Leao with 1/3 of Adli’s attitude and work-ethics…
It’s a pity that Pioli need injury crisis to realize Adli’s potential.
I’m not sure about this resurgence. Sure he had a great game against Roma but he’s only been played recently. And it’s odd the timing of his games. Played full games against Empoli and Cagliari but didn’t start in the Copa against Atalanta 🤷♂️. Then started vs Roma. Its so weird. You’d think we’d need him vs Atalanta more than vs Roma.
He also was pretty much benched the whole of December and November wasn’t any better (and this was after a similar run of games we saw now). Why he’s been kept out I have no clue.
Oh come on. This guy could walk on water and people will still claimed he’s not good enough. No he has not had a run of form this good before. And Roma was a valid and still dangerous opponent. This is more consistent than he has ever player and he was only benched because of Krunic, who is no longer with the team.
Also as far as not playing Atalanta, Pioli recovered some of the others, and they clearly didn’t play up to par. And Adli was rested. Standard rotation.
Yea but I’m saying vs Atalanta it was a knock out game..Roma wasn’t..we needed him more in that game than vs Roma.
watch the highlights from the first Atalanta match. Specifically their final goal…
@DanC2717 you mean Adli’s failure to track Muriel’s run? Also vs Udinese, vs PSG and so on. He’s been directly culpable for many goals against this season. Yea I’ve been saying for a while now that his defensive abilities are sus hence why he never played at the start or as they call it in these parts…a hater 🤷♂️. Can’t be a DM if you have no D. Its why i think he’s better suited upfield. But now we’re stuck with only 2 mids that can play there plus Benny when he comes back. In all cases they’re suspect on the defensive end and this WILL be exposed against bigger teams. Its all nice and hunky Dory now but you wait for it lol
You’ve missed the point completely. I didn’t say he wasn’t good..all Im questioning, which I’ve done before, is why he hasn’t been given more game time.
The timing of his games are odd to me. When Krunic got injured this was the run of form I was talking about. He did ok enough against Lazio, Genoa and so on. And then after never got much playing time..even when Krunic came back for a couple games and lost his form around November then got benched, Adli still didn’t manage to break into the team. Again, even with Krunic out for pretty much November and December, Adli also didn’t get game time too. Which to me beggars belief. Hopefully with what he has shown now he can get a run in but I wouldn’t put it past Pioli to mess up his momentum again
He’s not a good 6. Is ok with in the pivot with Reijnders interchangeably. But he should play in place of RLC more.
Yep I agree. Def not a 6. He’s aggressive enough in his tackles upfield that doesn’t cause an issue in the penalty area so putting him as an AM would be perfect. Not sure why we can’t try that out too 🤷♂️
The list of things that boggles my mind
reijnders ist meiner Meinung dieses Jahr nicht austauschbar
The RLC role requires man to man defense. Adli will need to show he can stay with the opposing teams midfielder on defense. But he’s given up so many goals/close calls from everything from a double pivot to an 8 role that it’s worth a shot in games that won’t be very up and down.
I think the defense in October was the main reason. He almost gave Dortmund the game at the tail end of the first game. He gave up on the play against PSG leading to their third goal. He had the penalty against Udinese. Dortmund’s third goal in the second match. Then the Atalanta game winner goal. I had assumed his season was over…
I replied to your other comment but seems were in agreement here including the same examples of Adli’s defensive issues. I was trying to be positive and not be labelled hater. Its great when things go well (I’ve always said his progressive passing was great but his defending really sucked) but when things don’t go so well I dont think his supporters really get critical of him.
I’ve been a critic of his performances as they had been inconsistent. But in the past several games he’s played, he’s looked pretty good. I hope he keeps improving game after game.
Also I think it’s difficult to judge him in the defensive mid role. It looks reasonable in a tandem with Reijnders, but I would like to bench RLC for a game or two and move Adli into the Englishman’s role and see how he does, with Reijnders and Musah behind him. (Although Musah too needs to improve – so far he’s only good off the bench).
We need a proper DM, not even Isma is a DM.
Adli is an alternative to Rejenders, a n8 to help ball progression. But he is not a n4.
A player like Matic (physical, strong defensively and clean with the ball) would make a lot of sense.
If only we could directly ask Furlani and Moncada for players 😀