The Rossoneri midfield of the future is taking shape: the Leverkusen midfielder is pushing for a move to Massimiliano Allegri’s side, even at the cost of spending a season without European competitions. San Siro is a stadium made for big European nights, thinks Granit Xhaka, and never mind if the real Champions League battles will have to wait a bit longer: you can do without them for one season—especially if the new Milan is fighting hard to get back into it quickly. That’s why, instead of the soundtrack of Europe’s top competition that Xhaka could enjoy at the BayArena in Leverkusen, the Swiss prefers the silence of Milan—a silence the club hopes will soon turn into renewed excitement.
The new project is enticing, and that’s why even a player of Xhaka’s caliber is drawn to it from afar: in fact, he would like to leave Germany and move to San Siro. With Bayer, he would play in European competitions; with the Rossoneri, he wouldn’t. For international exposure, there’s always Switzerland, where Granit is captain, while Milan offers the chance to discover a new league. Xhaka began his career at Basel, then moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany, followed by nearly a decade in the Premier League with Arsenal before returning to Germany and winning the Bundesliga with Leverkusen. Having reached the peak of the German league, Xhaka feels it’s the right time to start over elsewhere.
That’s where his desire for Milan comes from: Xhaka is a midfielder of substance and leadership, and this could be considered his first real Rossoneri-quality play—a kind of assist for his move to Milan. His salary fits within the club's parameters; the only issue lies in the transfer fee. At least for now: the new Rossoneri sporting director, Tare, personally traveled to Leverkusen to negotiate the deal. Milan are offering ten million euros, a valuation that reflects the player’s experience and qualities but also his age, with 33 fast approaching. Bayer consider the player to be worth more, but the fact that they did not outright reject the initial offer shows they’re open to negotiation.
Xhaka’s potential move to the San Siro is not only about taking the team to the next level, but it is also a personal challenge for the player, as it would be his first time playing in Serie A. It is true that there will be no European competitions for Allegri’s team next season, but the roar and chants from the San Siro venue are still a very appealing experience for many important players, as it helps motivate players and takes off pressure in big games as well. That atmosphere can also be likened to the role that music plays, which enhances high-stakes environments, such as when players unwind off the pitch. For instance, certain music genres can create an ambiance that boosts focus and enjoyment. For example, pop music’s catchy melodies can boost mood and create a special environment to prepare for intense matches. These insights, which are detailed in the guide to songs while playing casino games, suggest similarities in how the fans at San Siro could amplify Xhaka’s intensity and commitment on the pitch.
What are Xhaka's statistics in the 2024/2025 season?
The ex Arsenal player had an interesting campaign with his Bayer Leverkusen side. In fact, he featured in 49 matches across all competitions (between Bundesliga, the German super cup, DFB Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League). From the defensive midfield position, he did manage to register his name on the scoring sheet twice while also providing 7 assists to his name. His disciplinary record includes 8 yellow cards and no red cards. The Swiss national team player clocked over 4100 minutes on the pitch.
He is always open to receive the ball and he was a key part of Leverkusen’s game under Xabi Alonso who is now at Real Madrid. Over the first 25 matchdays of the Bundesliga, he’s had 2893 touches of the ball which was around 600 more than the next best player in the division, who is VfB Stuttgart’s Waldemar Anton (2252).
German journalist and expert, Raphael Honigstein, commented on Xhaka’s importance for Bayer Leverkusen and said the following to the microphones of TNT Sports:
“We always knew that Xhaka had a big personality. That he was an important dressing room voice and a real leader. But now, his football has gone to another level in the last couple of years and I think that is because of the influence of [Alonso and Mikel Arteta] as experienced former central midfielders.”
Could he be Tijjani Reijnders' perfect successor?
Milan are trying to keep the investment low also because he won’t be the only addition in midfield: the team still needs more reinforcements, especially a replacement for Reijnders. If Xhaka is placed in the center to dictate the tempo, they need a young player next to him who can push forward and seek goal-scoring chances—just as Tijjani did: last season he found the net successfully 15 times. If Xhaka brings experience, Javi Guerra could be the youngster to launch. In every sense: a talent Milan wants to develop in red and black, and someone Allegri would use as a box-to-box midfielder. The Spaniard from Valencia, born in 2003, scored four goals in his first real season in La Liga and three more in the one just ended. He has goals in his boots, and Milan believe he can increase his tally at San Siro. The cost is already high: at least 25 million. But, there is a whole summer ahead to negotiate. And Reijnders, bonuses included, cost the same...
