Luka Modric has found his counterpart. And there is no need to exaggerate, since no one is claiming that Ardon Jashari is equal to the Croatian. The truth is simpler: the Swiss has shown he can play in front of the defense with clear ideas and room to grow. He is providing the answers head coach Massimiliano Allegri has been looking for in that area of the pitch.
Ardon Jashari Shows Tactical Maturity in Midfield and intends to learn from Luka Modric:
Everyone was watching him with curiosity because Ardon, along with Nkunku, was the most expensive player in Milan’s summer market, and during preseason he had already shown key signs of personality and two-footed ability, suited both to build play and to protect. It is no coincidence that the Rossoneri courted him for so long. Remember the Bruges saga? It was an endless negotiation with bids and counteroffers that came down to cents. Jashari did not just wait: he essentially excluded himself from his team to move to Milanello, and eventually the Belgian club had to accept.
One trait to observe and definitely not underestimate is Jashari’s determination. That determination, that precision in knowing exactly when to make the decisive move… It’s like the same quality you look for when you look for the right bet cricket live.
Ardon Jashari is part of a department that is Milan’s pride. In midfield Allegri has a rare abundance, unlike other clubs, with players all different from one another. Jashari is no exception: there is no one like him in the squad. He can really fit anywhere. In fact, in Belgium, the player in question mostly played as a central midfielder in a 4-2-3-1, but his characteristics and skills allow him to play as a mezzala or, as seen at the Olimpico, as a deep-lying playmaker.
On Thursday in the Coppa Italia against Maurizio Sari’s SS Lazio side, Ardon Jashari returned to the field in an official match after several months of absence due to injury. The Swiss, deployed from the start as a deep-lying playmaker, stayed on the pitch for 81 minutes and, although he is not yet at full fitness, still showed some very interesting qualities. The former Club Brugge player is now eager and hopes to get some playing time very soon.
The highlight of his game in Rome against Lazio was the long ball to Estupinan, which later created AC Milan’s best chance through Leao: a precise pass of over twenty meters that bypassed the entire Lazio defensive line, reminding many of Pirlo. Ardon is both combative and controlling. By the time the ball reaches him, he has already looked up to decide whether to protect it from opponents or to find the best teammate to pass to. He does not have a tank-like physique, but he is hard to move. As Allegri noted, working alongside a master like Modric has helped him, and the Swiss has all the qualities to become one of the most intriguing profiles for the second half of the season. One idea that could appeal to Allegri is placing him alongside Rabiot and Modric: the team would still have adequate protection and, unlike with Fofana, more technical sensitivity in possession.
AC Milan Gains a New Midfield Weapon with Ardon's Versatility and Vision:
The project is interesting, and now that Ardon is fit it can be implemented. The game against Lazio shows he won two tackles and four duels out of seven, completed 80 successful passes (only De Winter exceeded him), and played 92 balls. For comparison, Luka Modric had 89 in the same league match against Lazio. This simply confirms that Ardon Jashari can deliver solid performances in this role. Allegri has an extra weapon in the heart of the midfield.
What did head coach Massimiliano Allegri say about Ardon Jashari:
"I’m happy for Jashari; he had a good return. I think it was his first time in that role; he usually plays in a two-man midfield or as a mezzala. He has room to improve," he said in a recent press conference.
Obviously, Allegri expects a lot from his key midfielders Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and even Youssouf Fofana. Ardon Jashari, however, is gaining some momentum physically and it is not excluded that he continues to showcase his skillset and potential gradually.
