Ardon Jashari turns 23 today and will be celebrating his brother’s wedding in Macedonia. Deep down, however, the Swiss midfielder knows he might soon be adding a third special day to his summer, the day he signs with Milan. For now, though, that possibility remains just a wish, one he’ll make today on his birthday in the hope it comes true soon.
Final Break
Corriere dello Sport starts precisely from this "wish" and tries to assess a situation that’s becoming increasingly surreal. The news from yesterday is that Ardon Jashari has informed Club Brugge he no longer wants to play for them. In reality, he’s been showing that all summer. But this time, the message is different: he’s telling his current club that even if he were to stay on paper, he has no intention of stepping onto the pitch. It’s yet another forceful move in an attempt to pressure the Belgian side into accepting Milan’s pursuit. In the meantime, the club has tried offering Jashari to Premier League teams in an effort to spark a bidding war, a move the player himself immediately shut down. He has only Milan in mind.
Diplomacy
On Milan’s side, the Rossoneri have no intention of raising their offer, which they already consider sufficiently high. This was reiterated yesterday by president Paolo Scaroni after exiting the Serie A Assembly. The club has put forward €33.5 million as a fixed fee, with bonuses that could raise the total to around €38 million. It’s a significant offer, but still not enough for Club Brugge, which increasingly seems to be taking a stance on principle as time goes by. In this messy picture, Milan is relying on the player’s firm desire to join, but will also need to deploy its best diplomatic efforts, as it did two years ago with De Ketelaere. Otherwise, it may soon be time to consider a plan B.
