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Janković warns against overhyping young Crvena zvezda talent Maksimović

23. October 2024
Aleksandar Janković (foto: //)
Serbian football expert Aleksandar Janković criticizes the hype surrounding Andrija Maksimović, urging caution and focus on player development rather than exaggerated transfer talk.

Serbian football expert Aleksandar Janković has voiced his concerns about the overwhelming attention surrounding Andrija Maksimović, a 17-year-old midfielder who has quickly become a rising star at Crvena zvezda. After a series of impressive performances and a national team call-up by Dragan Stojković, media outlets and fans began discussing his potential transfer, with Crvena zvezda's director Zvezdan Terzić stating that the club wouldn't consider offers below €20 million.

However, Janković believes the focus should shift away from transfer speculation and back to Maksimović’s development.

"Playing at a high level is a huge challenge and the best way to improve, but when it comes to young players like Maksimović, we see the same mistakes repeated. Some media are exaggerating, and it's dangerous for the boy," said Janković.

He further emphasized the risks associated with premature hype: "We tend to get overly excited, but this can be counterproductive. Serbian football has sold five players to Manchester City in recent years—none of them have played a single minute for the club they signed for." Janković cited examples of players like the Ilić brothers and Mijatović, highlighting how many youngsters end up on loan and never fulfill their potential.

"We're losing talent because they aren’t ready, and we repeat the same mistakes, inflating media bubbles around players who’ve only played a few senior matches, assigning them values of €20, €50, or €100 million," Janković warned, noting that these inflated expectations can lead to disappointment and stunted development.

The 52-year-old, once dubbed 'Serbian Mourinho,' has coached Crvena zvezda, the China national team, and several Belgian clubs including Lokeren, Mechelen, and Standard Liège.

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