Will Ardon Jashari Play a Key Role for Milan Next Season? | OneFootball

Ardon Jashari arrived in Milan with high expectations, but his first season in the Rossoneri jersey proved disappointing for the Swiss midfield playmaker. Will Jashari now find his footing in Milan during the upcoming season and take on a key role?

A battle for Ardon Jashari’s signature reportedly played out behind the scenes in the summer of 2025. The defensive midfielder had made a name for himself at Club Brugge in just one season, catching the eye of Europe’s heavyweights. Borussia Dortmund and Milan, in particular, showed the greatest interest in signing the Swiss player.

However, it soon became clear that the Belgian club’s demands were steep and likely beyond Borussia Dortmund’s means. Consequently, Milan persisted in their pursuit, managing to negotiate a slightly lower transfer fee and ultimately securing the playmaker’s signature.

A Rough First Serie A Season

Problems arose early on in Milan, however. Immediately after the opening match of the season – a home defeat against Cremonese – Jashari fractured his fibula, sidelining him for weeks. Even after his recovery, the left-footer was initially overlooked; he did not make his Serie A comeback until December 28.

This was largely because the midfield – comprising Youssouf Fofana, Samuele Ricci, Adrien Rabiot, and Luka Modric – had gelled during Jashari’s absence, and Massimiliano Allegri saw no reason to alter the lineup. Furthermore, Ruben Loftus-Cheek added to the competition for a spot in Allegri’s starting XI.

As a result, Jashari saw only sporadic playing time. He played the full 90 minutes in just two matches during his debut Serie A season – far too little for a player of his quality.

2026 World Cup: Limited Playing Time

Ultimately, those qualities earned him a call-up for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, despite his lack of high-level match practice. The nomination did not come as a complete surprise; after all, his abilities are well known, and Jashari did see a bit more action during the final weeks of the Serie A season.

However, Jashari was unable to play a major role in the national team. This is primarily because the squad already boasts an undisputed leader and midfield strategist in his position – Granit Xhaka – whom Jashari, for understandable reasons, has yet to displace. Nevertheless, from the left-footer’s perspective, his playing time mirrored the preceding season.

Can Jashari Hold His Own in Amorim’s Team?

Milan – and by extension, Jashari – will have a new coach for the upcoming season. Rúben Amorim is taking the helm at the storied Italian club with the task of getting the Rossoneri back on track. To this end, two exciting players – Gonçalo Ramos and Mario Gila – have already been signed for significant fees, signaling Milan’s ambitions.

Amorim favors a 3-4-3 formation, though a 3-4-2-1 is also a possibility. In either case, his system will likely feature only two central midfielders moving forward. Currently, however, the Milan squad contains no fewer than nine players for the central midfield positions. Tough personnel decisions are therefore likely on the horizon.

Jashari will likely get a fresh opportunity under Amorim, but he will also have to work incredibly hard during the pre-season. If he can rediscover the form he showed in the past, however, it will be difficult for Amorim to overlook him. His strategic acumen, passing quality, and progressive style of play – encompassing both progressive passes and runs – were outstanding during his time at Bruges.

Such a scenario would, of course, also boost Milan’s prospects in the title race. Currently, Swiss bookmakers view the Rossoneri as the third-strongest team. With a genuine strategist in midfield pulling the strings within a well-functioning squad, their chances of winning the Scudetto would naturally improve even further.

However, should Jashari fail to impress, the 23-year-old need not worry too much; other clubs would gladly snap up a player with his skillset. Atalanta and Roma, among others, have reportedly already made inquiries. Clubs from abroad will also undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the defensive midfielder’s progress over the coming weeks.