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Fabio Capello has revealed his belief that signing Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus would complete the window for AC Milan.
The big news of the last 24 hours is that Ardon Jashari finally landed in Milan last night after a deal with Club Brugge was agreed on the basis of €34m as the fixed fee plus €3m in potential bonuses.
Massimiliano Allegri will get the midfielder that he has wanted all along, just as Jashari will get his dream move. Now, attention can be turned to putting the finishing touches to the squad.
Zachary Athekame is believed to be joining from Young Boys before the end of the week in an operation worth just under €10m, but there are still question marks about the striker role.
Capello issues Vlahovic plea
Today’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport has an interview with Fabio Capello, who commented on the Jashari signing and the centre-forward pursuit.
What do you think of Jashari’s arrival?
“I confess I’ve only seen him in the Champions League in the last year, too little to have, and above all, to give, absolute certainties. However, the boy seems good to me, potentially a top player in the role in the future. In short, a Milan-worthy signing, as I see it.”
Some fans fear the De Ketelaere effect with it being the same team, same league…
“Jashari seems to me to be made of a different kind, honestly. I’m not talking about talent, of course, but about character. That’s what they tell me, and even seeing him on the pitch, he gives the impression of someone who isn’t afraid of anything.
“The Belgian had never left Bruges, his hometown, before. Jashari, on the other hand, is Swiss with Albanian origins. Different situations. First of all, he’s already moved away from home once, when he went from Switzerland to Belgium last year.
“It means you’ve already had to prove yourself worthy in a place where you’re unknown, and he even won the league’s best player award, even doing well in the Champions League.
“Jashari seems to me to be the type who doesn’t hold back when it comes to showing off his talent or giving that little bit extra to win. He may be Swiss, but you can see the Balkan blood in his veins (laughs).”
You know a thing or two about players from those parts of the world, having coached many of them in your career…
“Boban, Savicevic, Suker, Mijatovic… It was a different kind of football, but in certain areas they don’t just have talent as a virtue. They are people who don’t accept defeat.
“And to today’s Milan, by adding Modric and Jashari on the pitch and Igli Tare in management, you have given a great boost of personality on and off the pitch.”
Jashari is the most expensive signing of Tare’s long managerial career so far…
“And this also makes me think it’s the right purchase. Igli is an experienced sporting director, he knows what it takes to do well at a club like Milan. If Tare chose Jashari, it’s because he saw not only an excellent player, but also a reliable man in every way.
“He’s not the type to leave anything to chance. And let’s not forget Massimiliano Allegri, who will certainly have approved the purchase.”
Are Milan now just missing a striker?
“Well, it’s first and foremost a question of numbers: the squad only has Gimenez, who, like many others in the team, has left some doubts in his first six months at Milan.
“Leao is a different story. There’s no doubt he’s a great talent, but he’s been too temperamental so far. Under Allegri, I expect him to be more consistent and decisive. The first signs are already there.
“Gimenez has shown something, but too little compared to the expense incurred by the club and everyone’s expectations upon his arrival. It must also be said that last year’s AC Milan team didn’t do very well, so Gimenez certainly has some mitigating factors as well.
“Even before the striker, Allegri is someone who knows how to win at the big clubs. After that, I’d say it’s easier to celebrate in May if you have a 20-goal striker than if you don’t.”
Is Vlahovic that 20-goal striker for this Milan?
“He’s already achieved that at Fiorentina, and in the last year with Max at Juventus, he wasn’t far off, despite some overall difficulties. Dusan is a penalty-box striker; he’s definitely capable of scoring goals if he regains his confidence and chances.
“He’d arrive in Milan with a desire to redeem himself and with less pressure. These aren’t just small details.”
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