Boban: ‘Szoboszlai had agreement with Milan’ long before Liverpool move | OneFootball

Dominik Szoboszlai is currently flourishing for Liverpool, but former Milan director Zvonimir Boban reveals ‘we had a deal, then it didn’t go through.’

ZAGREB, CROATIA – OCTOBER 25: Former footballer Zvonimir Boban looks on prior to kick off of the UEFA Champions League group E match between Dinamo Zagreb and AC Milan at Stadion Maksimir on October 25, 2022 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

Boban had been a director at Milan from the summer of 2019 to March 2020, when he was fired after bitterly criticising the owners.

It was during this brief period that the Rossoneri had their hands on the promising young talent who had just joined RB Salzburg and had a release clause worth just over €20m.

He was eager to make the move, later confessing that he had grown up being a Milan supporter.

Boban brought Szoboszlai to Milan

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Galatasaray SK at Anfield on March 18, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“Obviously I like Szoboszlai, we had already closed a deal for him, then it didn’t go through,” Boban told Sky Sport Italia this evening in his role as pundit for their Champions League coverage.

“He’s a great player, I’m happy he won the war with himself and became a real player.”

Szoboszlai was eventually sold to RB Leipzig for €36m in January 2021, then moved on to Liverpool for a transfer worth €70m in the summer of 2023.

According to Boban, his career path has above all benefited from a change of position into a much deeper role.

“Szoboszlai started out as a Number 10, in Salzburg and for Hungary, playing behind the striker. It was a problematic position, though. He didn’t have the pace or the ability to take men on to be a real Number 10, it wasn’t his style at all.

“Now he has been transformed into a pure Number 8, which was the only logical move to make him a champion. He has such extraordinary talent, he sees the game and has the lightness of touch that few in the world can boast,” concluded Boban.