Sad reality of my country and probably Easter Europe is fact that a lot of people have troubles to get enough money for normal everyday life. Then when first opportunity to get rich through talented kids shows up they are ready to grab it no matter if that will ruin career of their kid.

The newest example is talented 19 years old player Matija Popović. Tall Serbian player, who can play like attacking midfielder, centre-forward or left winger, could go to Manchester City. First information was that he will become Milan player, but yesterday Fabrizio Romano said Manchester City is trying to hijack this transfer. Is he really think his career will go forward or that he will see first team football in club like Manchester City ? I can assure him he will not.

There was one very talented, good player in recent past, who played also for Partizan and we all forgot him. His name is I think Filip Stevanović. He went to City for very big transfer fee, didn't see pitch there and I think he's now in some smaller Belgian club where he is struggling. Belgian league is little stronger than Serbian. His career was ruined with move to Manchester City. In his case it was more club decision, because transfer offer was very big, but it was bad for player.

Right path is to go from Partizan in some midtable team of top 5 leagues. Those are places where those players could get chance, play, build name and then make bigger money transfer. Good example of that is Dusan Vlahovic who went to Fiorentina, was good there and then went to Juventus. If he went straight to Juventus he'd be finished.

Long time ago Predrag Mijatovic went from Partizan to Valencia and then to Real Madrid to become legend. If he went straight to Real Madrid I doubt his career would be the same. It's sad that father wants to get big money now instead to make right path career for his son. Competition in top clubs is to big. Very few young players get chance to play first team football there.

If I can give advice to that family I'd go to club like Fiorentina or some club like that, even if that mean little lower money right now, train hard, grab every opportunity, build name there and then make move to big club. Ex Partizan players made good trace in Fiorentina so I guess they would not complain if they get yet another kid from here. Serie A is also very strong league.

Soccer / matija popovic

Parents who destroy careers of their kids

Parents who destroy careers of their kids

Parents who destroy careers of their kids