Juanlu Sanchez, Ademola Lookman and Ardon Jashiri (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Michael Regan, Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty)
Certain news stories like this always pop up during the transfer window; suddenly and quietly. And the longer the negotiations drag on, the more the denial, criticism and calls of ‘an impossible operation’ increase. One has to stand firm until that impossible operation is closed with the player’s signature.
We’re talking, of course, about Jashari. The negotiations lasted as long as the entire window. At his age, most others would have given up but instead, he held out. He didn’t show up to train, he skipped the photos and selfies with the fans and said that he wouldn’t play for Club Brugge again. It was only Milan on his mind.
Speaking after his arrival in Milan, he said “I’m very happy.” He fully knows what the long days he endured before his long-awaited arrival were like. And then, finally, it was official.
Some say the same thing happened with Gyokeres, Sporting CP and Arsenal, that the player eventually ended up where everyone thought he would. Of course. I always think that big clubs should act like big clubs.
They say that Milan have finally signed Jashari and that he will be an excellent signing. Those who say he was the only midfielder to have neutralised Ederson in a Champions League match against Atalanta last season are correct. But there’s one important thing to add: Milan got a discount on the famous €40m that Club Brugge had been asking for.
Next time, maybe it would have been better to spend the extra two or three million to avoid the endless and risky wait.
What would have happened had they been left holding the baby? Would they have quickly started looking for a viable alternative? Milan is Milan. They’re expecting to welcome a great player, so maybe next time, it would be better to take a few shortcuts. In most cases, it would be worth it.
Ademola Lookman reacts during Atalanta vs AC Milan (Photo by…..
