After making his full debut for Fulham on Saturday, Aleksandar Mitrovic has admitted that he does not regret moving to Newcastle United back in 2015, explaining that we are one of the ‘big names’ in Serbian football and a team he supported from a young age.
The Serbian had built up a special rapport with some sections of the St James’ Park crowd, however he and Rafa Benitez were clearly not on the same wavelength, with him making just a handful of appearances this season prior to his loan move to Fulham last month.
He made his first start at Craven Cottage on Saturday, starring in their crucial 2-0 win over promotion rivals Aston Villa, and he has since spoken out about his move to Newcastle, explaining why he does not regret to move despite a difficult few years at the club:
“They (Newcastle) are big names in Serbian football, and here in English football, and they told me it’s the hardest league in the world, so I wanted to see what it was like,”
“I joined Newcastle because from a young age I supported them. I don’t why, but they had black-and-white colours, the same colours as Partizan Belgrade.
“I chose Newcastle and I didn’t make a mistake.”
It’s always been clear the Mitro loves the club and wants to succeed at St James’ Park as much as anyone, but I also can’t help but think that he’ll have to return from Fulham in the summer a changed man and a player reborn if Rafa’s to give him a second chance at the club.
Either way, I’m glad to see him playing football again at Fulham, with their attacking and positive style of play likely to suit the big Serbian.
I’m not his biggest fan, but I would welcome it if he can score plenty goals between now and the end of the season and put himself back in Benitez’s plans.
Here’s him admitting that Newcastle are his favourite back in 2013 (when he played for Partizan Belgrade):
