CM: From ‘oblivion’ to new opportunities – how Adli changed his inevitable fate

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·28 September 2023

CM: From ‘oblivion’ to new opportunities – how Adli changed his inevitable fate

What a difference a game makes. Yacine Adli was a starter again for AC Milan last night – 346 days after the first and only time with the club – and he took his chance.

Calciomercato.com recall how Adli ‘fell into oblivion for almost a year’ after amassing less than half an hour in playing time after that match against Verona last season, but he was called upon to play a role not familiar to him after Rade Krunic’s injury.

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Stefano Pioli launched him in Cagliari in front of the defence, and the former Bordeaux player did not disappoint. He started with the right attitude, he made a mistake by losing the ball for Luvumbo’s goal, but he got back up from it.

He moved the ball well with both short and long balls, even getting stuck in and winning his next three tackles and three ground duels. and even some targeted tackles he was able to hold his position well.

A year ago he had disappointed against Verona in Pioli’s eyes but against Cagliari he seized his moment and shone with a performance that suggests he harbours a lot more maturity.

It is a first personal victory for Adli, who wasn’t even supposed to stay at Milan beyond the summer. The player himself admitted it after the game in an interview with DAZN.

“The first day I spoke to Pioli and he told me that we would change the way we play and that I wasn’t in the cards. Tomori asked me what I would do and I told him:I’ll stay here and you’ll see how I play,” he said.

The Franco-Algerian continued to work in silence and with commitment. He never said a word out of place and was the first to support his team-mates on the pitch and celebrate with them off the field, as the outpouring of love from them on social media shows.

Salernitana wanted Adli, given that head coach Paulo Sousa wished to reunite with him after their spell together at Bordeaux, and last night he had some very complimentary words: “An exemplary worker, for me the new Zinedine Zidane for his technical qualities. He needs continuity.”

Salernitana and some French clubs knocked on the Rossoneri’s door but Adli only wanted to stay at Milan and kept his promise. Now the second phase begins: keeping his spot.

Yacine has shown that he has what it takes to compete for a shirt in the coming weeks and it is from the performances that he will be able to offer before the break against Lazio, Borussia Dortmund and Genoa that will decide a lot.

Krunic is still injured and will be for another three weeks or so, leaving the Rossoneri midfield numerically short, so Adli will have his opportunities to rack up more minutes and get new chances between now and January.

In the new year the situation will change, also due to the return of Ismael Bennacer after his knee injury. His playing time may inevitably be reduced and this could convince the club to re-evaluate the possibility of letting him go.

Salernitana could pick up the phone again, but a lot is linked to the possible stay of Sousa, as well as what kind of Ligue 1 clubs come in. For now, it is a scenario that Adli wants to avoid, with his performances.

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CM: From ‘oblivion’ to new opportunities – how Adli changed his inevitable fate | OneFootball

CM: From ‘oblivion’ to new opportunities – how Adli changed his inevitable fate

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