Pavlovic could become Milan’s striker-defender of the millennium

On the day of his presentation, Zlatan Ibrahimovic had defined him as “an animal”. And in fact, seeing also a WWE fighter’s build, he wasn’t entirely wrong. On the other hand, the name Strahinja – one of those that just saying it is a little training – recalls virtues such as strength and courage. A name which, little curiosity, was very widespread among Serbian nobles in the Middle Ages. Well, maybe Strahinja Pavlovic won’t have Modric’s aristocratic elegance, but one thing is certain: when he takes the field, fear isn’t exactly one of his characteristics. He is not afraid to come out from behind and go seventy meters without the ball to close an action, nor to shoot torpedoes from 25 meters under the crossbar. With 4 goals in Serie A he has already joined Kaladze and Tomori at the top of the ranking of Milan’s most prolific central defenders in Serie A from 2000 to today. And yes, there are still eight games to do better. No pressure.

complete repertoire

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Numbers in hand, Pavlovic is having the best season of his career. He had never reached 4 goals (with 1 assist) in the league: last year he stopped at two. A clear leap, which also involves a different way of interpreting the role of left central defender in the 3-man defence. Without Theo Hernandez anymore to monopolize the left flank with his bucking, Allegri this year has granted more freedom to the Serbian, with Bartesaghi more blocked behind. The goal against Roma is the snapshot of his transformation: recovery by Bartesaghi, quick restart and Pavlovic who starts from his area and reaches Svilar’s goal to receive a chocolate from Leao. Match goal. Not exactly an action like Vidic or Stam (two of his idols), but still a nice way to make it clear that something has changed. Against Cremonese he scored with a header in the first leg and with a face in the return, while against Torino he was the exception: a left-footed volley from almost thirty metres, a kiss to the crossbar and a goal. Translated: he doesn’t just score as a simple defender. With Allegri Pavlovic has become a modern, complete centre-back: he defends, attacks, sets with decent quality and scores almost half as many as Leao (9 goals in Serie A). Which, said like that, already makes you smile enough.

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On the defects that need to be ironed out, Pavlovic pays for his impetuosity resulting from his status as an aggressive player. Against Torino he complicated his own life with a naive penalty on Simeone, while last year in the return derby he took a big risk in the area with a (very borderline) intervention on Thuram. But broadening our gaze, it has been since the 2023-24 season that a Milan centre-back has not scored at least 4 goals in Serie A (Tomori). Going even further back, from 2000 onwards, Kaladze also managed it in 2001-2002, even if he occasionally played full-back in that year. Now Pavlovic has two objectives for this season finale: secure the Champions League and, why not, also believe in first place. Reaching 5 goals would mean entering even more rightfully into Milan’s history. And the great thing is that, while he scores, someone is struggling up front: Nkunku, paid handsomely and a striker by trade, is stuck at 5 goals, Pulisic is at 8 (still without a goal in 2026), Leao at 9. In short, we can say without beating around the bush too much: for the final sprint, Allegri will need his striker in shirt 31. Which, an important detail, starts every weekend from around 70-80 meters from the opponent’s goal.