Milan’s New Boss Plans to Salvage $34 Million Gamble on Ardon Jashari

Ruben Amorim hasn’t even had his first coffee at Milanello yet and he’s already being asked about the guy who barely played last season. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the new Milan boss is ready to give Ardon Jashari a real chance after a first year at San Siro that basically went nowhere.

Milan paid Club Brugge about €34 million for Jashari last summer. At 23, he was one of the most chased midfielders in Europe. He picked the Rossoneri over a handful of other suitors. Then the season started and he didn’t.

Jashari missed the first two months of the 2025/26 campaign with an injury. By the time he was healthy, Max Allegri had his rotation set. Fourteen Serie A appearances. Zero goals. Not exactly the return on investment the front office was hoping for.

World Cup form vs. club reality

Here’s where it gets weird. While Jashari was stuck on Milan’s bench for most of the winter, he was on the field for Switzerland in the World Cup knockout rounds. He started the round of 16 win against Colombia. He’s been a regular for Murat Yakin’s squad in Qatar. The guy clearly has talent. It just didn’t show up in Milan.

Part of that was circumstance. Allegri had Luka Modric — a Ballon d’Or winner — in the midfield. And his guy Adrien Rabiot. Those two soaked up the minutes that Jashari probably expected when he signed. But opportunity is a weird thing in football. One manager’s afterthought is another manager’s project.

Why Amorim might make this work

Amorim comes in with a reputation for getting the most out of players who’ve lost their way. Sporting Lisbon under him became a destination for guys needing a restart. Jashari fits that mold now. He’s already said publicly he wants to stay and fight for his place. That’s the right thing to say, sure, but it also signals he’s not looking for a loan escape route.

There’s another factor here. Rabiot is getting serious interest from Napoli. If that move happens — and the rumors are picking up steam — there’s a clear opening in midfield for someone who can actually stay healthy and take instructions. Jashari might be that guy.

Milan didn’t drop €34 million on a player just to ship him out after one bad year. Amorim seems to understand that. The clean slate is real. Whether Jashari can grab it is the question.