December 8 – Former Serbian Manchester United star Nemanja Matic (pictured) has launched another attack on Serbian football, its president Dragan Džajić, and the country’s biggest clubs – Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade – who he calls the “viruses” of Serbian football.
“Serbian football is sick, infected with viruses called Red Star and Partizan! It is important that there is a cure…” Matić wrote on the X social network.
Matic’s comments come at a time when former candidate for the presidency of the Serbian Football Union (FSS), Nemanja Vidic, has once again highlighted what he sees as the problems of Serbian football. Matic supported Vidic in FSS presidential election.
This is not the first time that Matic has criticised the management of Serbian football. Recently in an interview with the YU Planet channel, he encouraged young footballers in Serbia not to sign contracts with Partizan and Red Star.
As a teenager, Matic played for both Red Star and Partizan. He was written off as an untalented young player before he went to Kolubara, from there he signed for Kosice in Slovakia, Benfica in Portugal and then clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Roma and now Rennes.
“Don’t go to Red Star and Partizan! I think I wasted my time there and they didn’t teach me anything. Everything they taught us there was wrong. When I went to a more serious level, they taught me everything about counter attack. Then I sat down and thought if it was possible…,” said Matic.
“A lot of parents make mistakes with that. Red Star and Partizan scouts travel around Serbia and look for talents, which is normal. It’s hard to say ‘no’ when Red Star and Partizan call. But I think that children leave too early and that they should stay in smaller environments because there are good coaches who can develop them. They will gain something when they go to the biggest clubs, but they will also lose a lot.” Matic continued.
“Maybe ‘banished’ is a bit of a harsh word, but they do it. Maybe I was behind my generation physically. Red Star judged that I was not for them and they chased me away. I had already moved from the village to the city and had to find another club. Partizan invited me to transfer to them, I was there for a year and a half, and then they kicked me out,” Matić added.
Contact the writer of this story, Alexander Krassimirov, at moc.l1714390409labto1714390409fdlro1714390409wedis1714390409ni@of1714390409ni1714390409