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Ardon Jashari’s first start in an AC Milan shirt highlighted that he could end up being Luka Modric’s heir, a report has claimed.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, no one is claiming that Jashari is as good as Modric, but he has demonstrated his ability to play in front of the defence with clear ideas and plenty of room for improvement. He’s provided the kind of response Allegri was looking for in that area of the pitch.
On the field at last
Everyone was eagerly awaiting Jashari, partly because of the over €30m invested to sign him, and partly because he had already shown what he can do in preseason friendlies. It’s no coincidence that the Rossoneri courted him for so long, and it became a never-ending soap opera with Club Brugge.
There’s no one like Jashari in the squad, and he can fit in anywhere. In Belgium he played mainly in the double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but given his characteristics and aptitude, he can also play as a mezzala and, as seen at the Olimpico, as a regista in front of the defence.
The highlight of his performance in Rome was his pass to Estupinan, who then set up Leao with the game’s best chance. It was a powerful yet precise pass over 20 metres that cut through Lazio open and reminded many of Pirlo.
Ardon is a fighter and a master of control. While the ball is still in his path, he’s already looking up to determine whether he should protect it from the opposition or focus primarily on finding the right team-mate to pass it to. He’s not a tank physically, but it’s difficult to move him.
As Allegri noted, working alongside a maestro like Modric has obviously helped him, and the Swiss has all the credentials to emerge as one of the most intriguing prospects in the second half of the season. One idea that could particularly appeal to Allegri is to place him alongside Rabiot and Modric.
The match against Lazio saw the Swiss player win two tackles and four duels (out of seven), recording 80 successful passes (only De Winter surpassed that) and 92 passes played. For example, in the league match against the Biancocelesti, Modric had reached 89.
This simply means that Jashari confirms he can perform adequately in that role. Allegri has an extra weapon in the heart of the pitch.
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