Adli confirms he ‘absolutely wanted to stay’ at Milan: “The club decided”

Yacine Adli has shed some light on his AC Milan exit, confirming that his heart was set on remaining at the club.

Earlier in September, Al-Shabab confirmed that they had signed the midfielder from Milan on a permanent deal that is rumoured to be about €8m. It brought an end to a troubled time for Adli, who never really established himself as a key player at Milan.

The Frenchman spent last season on loan with Fiorentina, where he amassed five goals and seven assists in 35 games across all competitions. Matteo Moretto recently revealed that Adli told Fiorentina not to buy him, because he wanted to fight for a spot at Milan.

‘They wanted to sell me’

Adli gave an interview to L’Equipe in which he spoke about his summer move to the Saudi Pro League and what led to him leaving Milan, confirming that he didn’t want to go.

How did the Milan exit come about?

“I absolutely wanted to stay at Milan, but unfortunately the club decided I was no longer part of their plans. So my preparation was a bit fragmented, given that I was out of the squad and they wanted to sell me.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

“I received many other offers, especially in Italy, but also from some clubs in England and France. And then I had this opportunity, which I thought was the best for my family.”

What can you tell us about the Saudi league?

“It’s true there’s a lot of money, but it’s a growing league, and it’s also becoming attractive because of its competitiveness. We’re not yet at the level of the European leagues, but the gap is closing.”

Do you have national team hopes?

“One of my goals is definitely to play for the national team. Algeria or France? I said I wanted to play for France, and from that moment on, I could never change my mind. There’s no chance.”