Petar Ratkov (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Lazio have officially presented Serbian striker Petar Ratkov after his €13m move from Salzburg, with the 22-year-old outlining his goals and inspirations in his first interview.
Petar Ratkov has been officially unveiled as a new Lazio player, speaking publicly for the first time after completing his transfer from Red Bull Salzburg.
The Serbian forward joined the Rome-based club in a deal worth €13 million and shared his first impressions in an interview with Lazio’s official website.
“My name is Petar Ratkov. I’m 22 years old and I come from Serbia. My first impressions are incredible. I’ve arrived at a big Italian club with many great players and an outstanding coach. I’m excited about everything and can’t wait to start playing and training,” Ratkov said.
Targets and Sarri connection
Ratkov admitted he has yet to meet head coach Maurizio Sarri, but made clear what he hopes to achieve in his debut season.
“My goal is to be the best I can be, to score goals and help the team finish as high as possible, maybe in the top six of Serie A. I haven’t met coach Sarri yet, probably today or tomorrow, but I’ve heard a lot about him and that he’s an incredible coach,” he added.
Advice from Milinković-Savić
Ratkov also revealed that he had spoken with former Lazio star Sergej Milinković-Savić, who played a key role in introducing him to life at the club.
“Yes, I spoke with Sergej yesterday. He told me only great things about Lazio and about the city, said everything is fantastic. For him, Lazio is the best club in Italy. I’m happy to be here, in one of the best leagues in the world. I’m young and I want to improve, score goals and grow as a player and as a person,” Ratkov said.
Idols and inspiration
When asked about his football inspirations, Ratkov pointed to two of the modern game’s most prolific forwards.
“Haaland is one of my idols, but first place is Robert Lewandowski. He’s someone I’ve always followed and looked up to,” the Serbian striker explained.
Ratkov now faces the challenge of adapting to Serie A, with Lazio hoping his physical presence and goal-scoring instincts can add a new dimension to their attack in the upcoming campaign.