Moretto: Jashari was ‘really close’ to joining Milan’s major rivals – the background

Ardon Jashari is still waiting for his first start as an AC Milan player, but he could have actually ended up playing for one of their rivals.

It became apparent during the summer window that Jashari was the primary target, and after yet more exhausting negotiations with Club Brugge deal was eventually struck at around €34m plus bonuses, and the player’s will played a huge part.

Soon, we will also get to see Jashari on the pitch again, following the serious injury he sustained towards the end of August. A fractured fibula left him with an estimated absence of 2-3 months, but he was back in the squad for the recent win over Roma and could play in Parma on Saturday.

Juventus were close

Matteo Moretto spoke on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel and he revealed some background on Jashari, including how he could have actually ended up at Juventus. His words were relayed by TuttoJuve.

“Milan’s scouting team had been following Jashari for a long time. Then in the summer, however, Igli Tare, the current sporting director of Milan, decided to bet heavily on him,” he began.

Photo by AC Milan

“But I want to tell you that before Milan’s attack, the other club that was really close to Jashari, the other Italian club, was Juventus. I’ve already told you this, but I’ll add that between March and April, early May – when Cristiano Giuntoli was still the sporting director of Juventus – Jashari had practically reached a verbal agreement.

“Or rather, Jashari’s entourage had practically reached a verbal agreement with Juventus, with the former sporting director of Juventus, Cristiano Giuntoli. In short, agreements with Brugge were needed, and then it was necessary to make the move in a decisive manner.

“Juventus had come very close because Juventus had understood that Sandro Tonali could no longer arrive in Turin. This is why Giuntoli had almost gone all in on Jashari. Then, well, what happened happened: Juventus’ sporting side changed with Comolli’s arrival, the choices changed.

“And Milan therefore had a clear path to focus on Jashari and then to close the deal on Jashari after a long courtship. But this is a behind-the-scenes story that I want to tell you again, adding this detail anyway.”