Strahinja Pavlović has backed Mario Gila to make an immediate impact at Milan, calling his new defensive partner the standout player in last season's meetings between the two sides.
Gila arrived as Milan's second signing of the summer at the start of July, joining from Lazio in a deal worth around €30m including bonuses. He had only a year left on his Lazio contract, so committing that kind of money signals how much faith the Rossoneri have placed in him.
"We've signed two excellent players. I can especially speak about Gila because he's a defender and we faced each other a few times last year against Lazio: for me, he was always the best player on the pitch," Pavlović said.
The Serbian pointed to the qualities that made Gila a target in the first place. "He has so many qualities and can help us a lot, especially with what he does with the ball. He's also a very aggressive player, so I think he's perfect for Milan."
Pavlović's read matches what Milan saw at close quarters, with Gila among the better performers in the fixtures against the Rossoneri last season. Those displays fed into the interest, though the delay in getting a management structure in place nearly cost Milan the deal before it was done.
With Gila and Pavlović now paired at the back, the early word from inside the dressing room is that the partnership is already clicking.