Salernitana coach Paulo Sousa did not hold back in his praise of AC Milan midfielder Yacine Adli by comparing him with the legendary Zinedine Zidane.
Adli got his first start of the season in Milan’s 3-1 win over Cagliari on Wednesday evening, playing just under an hour as the defensive midfielder before he was taken off for Yunus Musah, and he impressed in that time.
The 23-year-old barely played for Milan in his first season there, starting just one game, but Rade Krunic’s injury and the switch to a 4-3-3 presented a chance for him to carve out more playing time.
Adli already has plenty of experience having made 104 first team appearances for Bordeaux, with quite a few coming under Sousa who spoke in a press conference and was full of praise for the 23-year-old who he apparently tried to sign during the summer.
“We always liked each other a lot, an extraordinary guy, super creative. An exemplary worker, for me the new Zinedine Zidane for his technical qualities. He needs consistency,” he said (via FootballItalia).
Adli will definitely become a wonderful Pirlo like kinda player….I have always like him for his professionalism and cool head, alot of players would have left after been told that he has no space in the team…I will be rooting for him no matter wherever he leaves Milan.
Lol Zidane? No. He’s being played now as a deep lying playmaker which is not Zidane. I swear people are mentally challenged and they just see he’s french and think Zidane. If anything he’s more being deployed like a pirlo right now.
He has the quality to be a world-class player, but he needs playing time, and he should work on his defensive facet.
Has Krunic been told to improve his passing or his ball carrying abilities? We have to understand that players are unique in thier own ways and the coach has to adapt them to a pattern, Pirlo wasn’t so good defensively either.
Right, but you see Pioli is the one managing Adli not Ancelotti. Pioli will pick his favorites regardless of their performance. Even if Adli performs like prime Pirlo, he will still be replaced by a mid-player like Krunic.
Well said. I never like comparisons of players as true great players have their own style. However, Sousa is certainly a very clever and respected individual.
He can take the reins from Pioli if he likes………………🤔
We played Cagliari. That doesn’t mean he didn’t do well but… …we also played Cagliari,. literally the worst team in the league lol
Why are you saying we played Cagliari as if they aren’t in Seria A and remember we usually drop points against such oppositions and let’s give credit to him for standing out in a roll that isn’t naturally is.
Cagliari……the worst team right now. And again, I didn’t say he didn’t do well but…. again…it’s Cagliari. The article has someone saying he’s like Zidane. Let’s not get carried away now is my point
Looks like somebody is low key hating on Adli…
Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter how well he does, Pioli’s irrational love for Krunic will always win out.
“ He needs consistency,” he said …. This comment is for you Pioli
This is a lot of promo…those quotes have power…pioli is impossible to read, but if they have agreed to move him somewhere he will play, they would do something like this. I don’t think he loves him at that position and I don’t think hes looking to change how they play. Could be dead wrong and don’t know what he could be valued at after a year not playing but I think about that when someone finally gets run.