Ex‑Milan, Reijnders new Al‑Qadsiah player: the video

The Nations League clash staged on the pitch of the 'Rajko Mitić' stadium in Belgrade, universally known as the 'Marakàna', delivered an authentic wave of nostalgic emotions to the Milan faithful. The match, part of the second round of Group 2 of League A and ending with a 2-1 victory for the Netherlands over Serbia, saw two players closely linked to the recent history of the red‑and‑black club take the field: Serbian defender Strahinja Pavlović and Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. Both started in the line‑ups of their respective national teams, and the two recalled the 2024-2025 season they spent defending the Milan colours at San Siro.

The game was ignited by a decisive brace scored by AZ Alkmaar striker Mexx Meerdink, whose goals across both halves were bracketed by a temporary equaliser from centre‑forward Luka Jović, another former Milan player. But beyond the on‑field verdict, the attention of the Diavolo supporters was entirely drawn to what happened outside the ninety minutes of play. Pavlović, who arrived in Milan from RB Salzburg, and Reijnders, who at the end of that season moved to the Premier League with Manchester City, showed how the bond formed in the 2024-2025 Milan dressing room remained completely intact despite their different professional paths.