AC Milan firmly believe that they can win the battle to sign Matija Popovic from Partizan Belgrade, a report claims, and they have a five-year deal on the table for him to sign.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Milan are looking at Popovic as a signing for the future. The 17-year-old can play virtually anywhere across the forward line and he had 20 goals (plus five assists) in 24 games for Partizan’s U17 side last season.
Born in Germany to Serbian parents, he has always played for his mother and father’s country. In May he gave Corradi’s Italy a hard time during the U17 European Championship, amassing two assists, while Milan have been following him for some time.
His contract expires in December and will not be renewed, so the Rossoneri have offered him an agreement to get ahead of the competition. Popovic would be a ‘Lazetic-style’ signing, a player that was purchased in the winter transfer window and then went out on loan.
The hope is that he does not follow the same path as Lazetic because the Serb – compared several times to Dusan Vlahovic – is currently struggling at Fortuna Sittard and has no future in the first team as things are at the moment.
Popovic’s trump card is his physique: he is almost two meters tall and will continue to bulk out. The Guardian has included him among the best talents of his generation, and there is another point of intrigue: he was born on 8 January 2006 when Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan beat Parma 4-3.
The teenager is right-footed, boasts good dribbling and excellent scoring ability. He plays better as a playmaker, while Milan have made their play as they have a contract ready until 2028.
“Popovic would be a ‘Lazetic-style’ signing”
Say no more. It’s all there. Lazetic who?
‘Lazetic-style’ presumably means a young Serbian striker with zero chance of getting in the first team under the current coach…
Yeah. Good old “doomed to fail”-transfer.