Dominik Szoboszlai is currently excelling at Liverpool, but former AC Milan director Zvonimir Boban has disclosed that “we had a deal” for the player, which ultimately “didn’t go through.”
Boban served as a director at Milan from summer 2019 until March 2020, when his employment was terminated following his strong criticism of the club’s ownership.
During his brief tenure, Milan (the Rossoneri) had reportedly secured an agreement with the promising young talent, who had recently joined RB Salzburg and whose contract included a release clause valued at just over €20 million.
Szoboszlai himself was keen on the transfer, having later admitted to growing up as a supporter of Milan.
Boban’s Attempt to Bring Szoboszlai to Milan
“I obviously like Szoboszlai; we had already finalized a deal for him, but then it fell apart,” Boban stated on Sky Sport Italia, where he was serving as a pundit for their Champions League broadcast.
He added, “He’s a fantastic player, and I’m pleased that he overcame his personal struggles to become the player he is today.”
Szoboszlai eventually transferred to RB Leipzig for €36 million in January 2021, before making a €70 million move to Liverpool in the summer of 2023.
Boban attributes Szoboszlai’s successful career trajectory largely to his tactical shift into a deeper midfield role.
“Szoboszlai initially played as a Number 10 for both Salzburg and Hungary, operating behind the striker,” Boban explained. “However, it proved to be a challenging position for him, as he lacked the explosive pace or the dribbling ability required to truly excel as a traditional Number 10.”
Boban concluded: “He has since been successfully converted into a pure Number 8, which was the most logical step to unlock his potential as a top-tier player. His talent is extraordinary; he possesses exceptional game vision and a finesse on the ball that very few players globally can match.”
