The vice-president of Partizan Belgrade has expressed his strong disapproval over the sale of Andrej Kostic to AC Milan.
Milan were linked for months with a move for Kostic as he was making a name for himself with Partizan. It looked as though the door might have closed after the winter window, but a deal was agreed and he underwent a medical on Sunday ahead of a €3.5m transfer to Milan.
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So far, the Montenegrin has scored 10 goals in the Serbian Super Lig this season, whilst also making appearances in the Europa Conference League and Europa League qualifiers. He is certainly a name for the future and is expected to join the Futuro initially, but he is impressing now too.
Partizan vice-president fuming
It seems that not everyone internally at Partizan is best pleased with things though. In an interview with sportske.net (via MilanNews), Pedrag Mijatovic – the vice president of Partizan Belgrade – said he is against the sale.
“Regarding the information regarding Andrej Kostić’s transfer to AC Milan, I feel obliged to address, first and foremost, the Partizan fans, but also the rest of the sports public, and to clearly state that I completely distance myself from this decision,” he said.
“I responsibly declare that I was not consulted in any way regarding Andrej Kostić’s transfer and that I never even saw AC Milan’s offer. I emphasise that, had I been involved in the decision-making process, I would have made it clear and unequivocal to all members of the Board of Directors that I was absolutely opposed to accepting such a paltry offer.
“This behaviour constitutes a serious violation of the company’s bylaws, considering that, by virtue of my position and clearly defined responsibilities, I am responsible for the club’s entire sporting affairs, including matters relating to transfer policy and player development. Is this the way the club intends to operate in the future, selling its most promising players on a free transfer?
“You have made this decision despite the fact that the rest of the Board of Directors, led by Rasim Ljajić, is aware that in recent months I have had intensive contact and discussions with representatives of several teams from the top five European leagues regarding some of our young players, including Kostić, and that I have made it clear to everyone that all our players have multimillion-euro release clauses and that the club’s policy is to adequately develop their talent and footballing potential.
“I believe that this sale has set a dangerous precedent, which will have a profoundly negative impact on the perceived value of our young players on the football market.
“As vice president of one of the largest sports institutions in this region, Partizan Football Club, I expect maximum transparency not only regarding this transfer, but also throughout the club’s entire management, and that this be done as quickly as possible.
“At the same time, I once again appeal to the rest of the management, given the evident inability to secure the financial resources necessary for the club’s normal operation, and in a manner that is not detrimental to its interests or in violation of the statutory principles, to convene an extraordinary club meeting as soon as possible and without delay to clearly define the path and strategy that such an important and respected club as FK Partizan should follow.”
Chances that Serbian player is going to become star are far below slim.
They last 2 players are milinkovic and vlahovic, which are playing in middle class and even below.
Pavlovic upgraded a little bit because Allegri use 3 defender.
If Allegri don’t use this system trust me all Ac Milan defender would look silly and not just Pavlovic.
At the end we can all put money on table that Kostic will have same destiny like Lazetic.
Milan is buying only in case he become someone like Colombo – to be sold for 10 million.
Bunch of gibberish
Somebody’s about to get sacked.
The price sounds about right for a 19-year-old player who has not been proven in any top league. The price is very well d.amn appropriate. Suck it up.
The will of the players count for nothing these days. All they have become is commodities used for power play by club owners and agents alike. Sorry state of affairs. Rather strong reaction for an untested player.
Well contracts are made to protect both parts involved so surely the players should accept that as well as clubs isn’t into charity work for the players sake as they invest a lot of time and money on them and clubs like Partizan regardless of their size in Serbia are relying on the income from player sales.
I can understand that Mijatovic is angry of the sale if it was done above his head and is low as 3 mil and even more so if its for free even though I suspect that it was said in anger as it would make absolutely no sense even in the even it had a 50% resale clause inserted.
Either way Mijatovic probably needs to find a new job after his highly enjoyable rant but I’m nevertheless very happy that Kostic will join AC Milan in the summer.
He is complaining about his leverage that he was fostering in Europe by presenting the perceived value of the players at the club by pointing to their release clauses that are probably much higher than 3 million euros and about the fact that the club believes their players are worth so much given they are invested in the development of these players.
He loses that leverage when the board decides to sell a player for 3 million euros. It doesn’t matter how we perceive the player; he is talking about the job he is given and the work he is putting into building a sense of value to these players, which is now shattered when there is a transfer that goes through for 3M when his work has probably been focused on making their perceived value to be north of 5M euros.
He was making it known that their players are worth high transfer fees. That is his job, and the board cut his legs by accepting a 3 million euro offer.
I did get the part of him saying that the deal devalues their players as it was also mentioned it could cause precedents for the future which isn’t too wrong an assessment in my view either.
Kostic value already exceeds the 3 mil mark.
Absolutely and I fully understands that he is somewhat furious about the decision to sell him as low as they have. It seems like a real steal we did there.
After this manager strongly and negatively commented against his own Board of Directors and indirectly the club’s president (who most likely OK’d the deal), I’m quite sure that his employment with FK Partizan will be swiftly terminated.
“This manager” was a sporting director at Real Madrid for three seasons, and the player who’s goal ended Madrids 32 year CL winners drought. He’s certainly not a nobody who’s gonna get fired.
If my memory serves me correct right now then he at some time in the late 1990ies at Madrid he had the biggest buyout clause in the world of football that was the equivalent of the highest fees ever paid to this day. It was never triggered though but Mijatovic was a world class player back then.
Is that why he’s being partisan instead of neutral?
Do you know of a certain ex-player called Paolo Maldini? He was one of the most decorated players to ever play the game, and a manager during a Scudetto-winning campaign; a true club legend, and guess what? He got fired, for being a lot less explicit against his superiors than Mijatovic. We’ll see if this guy will remain with the club.