Filip Djuricic, the captain of the Serbia U-17 team and Radnicki midfielder, was a special guest at Old Trafford on Sunday for United’s match against Chelsea, while only a day later he attended two practice sessions under the charge of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The former Red Star player, who spent a year in Olympiacos Athens, and then joined Serbian lower-league side Radnicki Obrenovac, has put in some promising performances at the age of 17, which have caught the eye of Budimir Vujacic, a Manchester United scout for the Eastern Europe. Vujacic has recommended Djuricic to the coaching staff of the reigning Champions League winners and enabled the midfielder to spend seven days at the
Theatre of Dreams and prove his merit. Jovica Radonjic, Filip Djuricic’s agent, conveys the first impressions from England.
- “Filip is at Manchester United together with Budimir Vujacic and is impressed with what he experienced during the game against Chelsea. He was first presented at the club, and then he watched the match in the VIP box, in the company of the likes of Jose Mourinho and Fabio Capello. For a boy of his age it’s an incredible thing; he is mentally very strong, mature and has a strong character. He is also aware of how much more effort and hard work lies ahead of him,” says Radonjic.
What is Djuricic’s itinerary in Manchester?
- “He had two training sessions on Monday, while today [Tuesday] he should undergo tests and remain at Old Trafford until 18 January. If he pleases Ferguson, then in late January or early February I will travel to Manchester in order to negotiate the terms of his deal so that the contract can be signed.”
Is Filip still a Radnicki Obrenovac player?
- “Yes, he has no connections with Red Star any more, except that he remains an ardent fan.”
In case he lands a deal with Manchester United, Djuricic will most certainly be sent on a one-year loan just like Adem Ljajic, another recent 17-year-old United signing from Serbia.
- “Let’s first wait until Filip passes all the tests and then we can discuss the details. It’s no secret, however, that one of the possible options is that he could return to Radnicki for a year, which I would insist on. Another scenario would be that United send him away to one of their affiliate clubs. Another realistic option would be Belgium, given the fact 17-year-olds are allowed to play top-league football there. So his options are relatively open; only one thing is for sure – he cannot join another Serbian club.”