Milan, Adli: ‘You will see me in more roles’. And what a duet with Tonali

From our correspondent Marco Fallisi

July 12
– MILANELLO (VARESE)

The first impression is not what counts, but maybe it is the one that sings: and with that Mozart-style hair and that fifth Beatle cut, Yacine Adli and Sandro Tonali promise rock music, from the Scudetto and Champions. After the Guns N’Roses, which the day before yesterday inflamed the San Siro in concert, soon it’s their turn. Sandro has already climbed the rankings in the last championship, beating the rhythm of the champion Milan with the constancy of a seasoned musician and the solos of a frontman in the final marked by his decisive goals. Yacine is a musician, he also plays the piano (“Call me Mozart, but only for the hair …”) and studies Italian: the ear for music is not discussed, the ear for the language is more than discreet, as evidenced by the first impeccable phrases given yesterday at the press conference: “I understand everything, but speaking is more difficult … I hope to be able to do the first interviews in Italian in a short time”. Speaking of time, the moment to find harmony on the pitch has arrived, rehearsals begin today at Milanello: Adli has been at work for a week, Tonali should have returned between Thursday and Friday but has cut his holidays. Too hungry for Milan.

The duo of 2000

–

What couple will it be? Tonali threw it on the physical resemblance of her: the other day she took a photo of her new partner published on the Milan social networks and exchanged names and surnames. “Sandro Adli or Yacine Tonali?”: The comparison obviously won thousands of likes from the fans, who already dream of the 2000 duo in the heart of Pioli’s 4-2-3-1. In reality, the compatibility options go far beyond the “simple” match in front of the defense, because Adli is a talent to be discovered, malleable and adaptable in multiple positions (and Tonali himself has raised his center of gravity in the last championship). Pioli said it at the meeting – “Adli is a very interesting guy, these weeks will help me understand where to use him better” – and Yacine confirmed it yesterday: “I’m an atypical midfielder, I can play in different positions. I am good in the last step and I have vision of the game, but I am here to improve. Pioli is testing me in different areas, what matters is playing “. To win, of course: “We will defend the title, Milan must always aim for the Scudetto”. Before dressing as a Rossonero, Adli had to wait: after buying him from Bordeaux for 10 million last summer, Maldini and Massara left him on loan in Ligue 1. The former PSG promise had a particular year, oscillating between cheering from a distance for future teammates – he said he had seen all the AC Milan matches – and the disappointing results with Bordeaux, relegated while Leao and company celebrated the title: “It wasn’t easy, I tried to stay focused on the club in I used to play but I always had Milan in mind ”, he explained yesterday. Adli says he immediately felt “in the family”, but the fact remains that the leap he has just taken is objectively challenging, because the pressure in the Rossoneri can be overwhelming. An assist can come once again from Tonali: he too has experienced a similar parable, from Brescia relegated to the jersey he dreamed of as a child, establishing himself after a season of acclimatization. Yacine has always admired Zidane but Timothy Weah, George’s son and his companion in the PSG youth academy, advised him to study Roberto Baggio. “They are champions to be admired but they are unattainable. I want to grow and follow my path “. Right: when Tonali stopped asking if he felt more like Pirlo or Gattuso, Sandro found his way.

Leader

–

If Adli’s role is tactically focused in these days of work, Tonali’s tasks are now very clear, and from this season they will be enriched with new responsibilities: with no more Kessie, the leader of the Scudetto midfield will unquestionably be Sandro. One who has earned the ranks of the team man on the field, thanks to an amazing season, but also with the example outside: last year, these days, Tonali had just signed a new contract with Milan, discussed again. after the expiry of the terms for the right of redemption from Brescia and redefined with a downward engagement. It had been a choice of Tonali, who in order to stay with the Rossoneri and to demonstrate that managers and owners had bet on the right talent, had decided to give up a slice of salary. This time the path will be able to travel in the opposite direction: on the agenda there is a renewal of the contract expiring in 2026, with an adjustment that will be rightly proportioned to the performance of the Scudetto Tonali. Without haste, because there is a squad to strengthen to chase the second star and make way for the Champions League, and because Sandro has other priorities as well. Starting with the new tunes (and symphonies) to be found in the middle.