Lazar Samardzic: Udinese’s throwback trequartista is shrouded in mystique
This summer, we are running a series profiling 50 exciting players under the age of 25 — who they are, how they play, and why they are attracting interest during this transfer window.
You can find all our profiles so far here, including “the Gen-Z Sergio Busquets”, the Canada striker determined to become a household name and the French midfielder that can do it all.
Lazar Samardzic was 17 when AC Milan invited him and his family to Italy.
Advertisement
The club’s chief scout Geoffrey Moncada had seen him play at youth level for Germany and recommended bringing the playmaker over. “We spoke to Paolo Maldini,” Samardzic revealed to La Gazzetta dello Sport. It was easy to see the pathway Milan wished to clear for him. Stefano Pioli plays a 4-2-3-1 and the role behind the striker is perfect for Samardzic.
“I’ve always been a No 10. I am a born trequartista,” he explained.
Samardzic represented an alternative to Brahim Diaz, who was only ever on loan from Real Madrid and one day wished to return to the Santiago Bernabeu, which he belatedly did this summer.
The opportunity, however, came too soon for Samardzic. “I didn’t feel like moving to a big city,” he said. The teenager turned Milan down and didn’t change his mind when Barcelona sent Patrick Kluivert to Berlin to pitch him the idea of continuing his development in Catalonia.
In hindsight, Samardzic’s decision was not completely unusual. Other talented kids have said “thanks, but no thanks” to top clubs at a similar age. Within Serie A, Domenico Berardi has stood by Sassuolo, eschewing moves away, and now wonders why the elite don’t come calling any more.
But a choice like Samardzic’s does still feel unorthodox. It’s enough to think about the niche in transfer reporting
Read on theathletic.com
