This is called taking your chance. Since his arrival in the summer of 2022 from the Girondins de Bordeaux (after being loaned for a year), Yacine Adli had not been able to establish himself in the eyes of his coach Stefano Pioli. This summer again, the Italian technician was very clear: he was not at all counting on the 23-year-old midfielder who had to find a way out. Despite unsuccessful interests from Frankfurt and Seville, Yacine Adli decided to stay despite Pioli’s reluctance. “Pioli told me that we were going to change the way we played and that I was not included in his team. So Tomori asked me what I was going to do and I told him: “I’m going to stay here and you’ll see how I play.”he confided to Sky Sport.
But his destiny changed on September 1 when Stefano Pioli decided to announce to him that he was going to move back a notch in midfield to become Krunic’s understudy (a time tracked by OL). A good one in the hierarchy for someone who, as an attacking midfielder, was only the 5th or 6th choice in the squad. So obviously, after Krunic withdrew due to muscle injury against Cagliari, it was Yacine Adli who started in a sentry role for his very first match of the season. And his technique dazzled all of Italy (Milan won 3-1). Enough to illustrate his great progress and get people talking about him.
He will start against Lazio
“Yacine Adli is a lifestyle: stopping to think, not increasing your heart rate. Indeed, Yacine Adli is a style and that’s it: elegant, technical, for aesthetes. Football at the end of the 20th century, grafted into this era of gegenpressing” headlined the Gazzetta Dello Sport after his performance. Same story for Paulo Sousa, coach of Salernitana and former coach of Adli in Bordeaux, on Italian television: “he’s a splendid boy, a worker. Technically extraordinary, creative. In Bordeaux, I described him as the new Zinedine Zidane for his creativity and his technical quality. And after making a successful debut, Yacine Adli should continue well.
According to the indiscretions of GDS, Stefano Piolo has been convinced and he intends to start the former PSG player once again against Lazio this weekend. The opportunity for him to score points before the Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund next week. But his technical qualities could, in the long term, also allow him to tickle Krunic who has a much less creative profile. It remains to be seen whether Pioli will want more defensive solidity or more creativity in his matches. But Yacine Adli can also boast of having the support of the locker room executives who have not failed to compliment him on social networks in recent hours (Rafael Leao, Ismael Bennacer). This Saturday, he will have the opportunity to confirm that this season, he will have to be counted on in Milan.
