Kylian Mbappe is leaving Paris, and Dusan Vlahovic has been mentioned for months in the sea of players who could arrive at the Parc des Princes to try to create a new, powerful generation of Paris Saint-Germain. Hence, an interview with the French L’Eqipe does not come as a surprise. Vlahović is particularly interesting to Parisian football fanatics.And although he doesn’t talk much about the future, he makes several interesting football observations. Let’s say, about how the game itself was changing.”I’m not Neymar, Hazard or Messi, for people to say ‘wow, what a footballer’ when they see me. But whatever the profile, the striker is fundamentally important in the team. If the striker plays well, the whole team plays well,” says Vlahović for L’Equipe.With the fact that the attackers also had to adapt to the new requirements. In the modern football age, the best jump out with their physical abilities, but is it really all about muscle and speed?”Football has changed a lot, so much so that people say that the physique is more and more important. But your technique must be top notch. Today, you have less and less time and space to do things that once graced the historical ‘no.10’. It’s a shame, because even today you still have top-level footballers, you just don’t see them as much, because everything happens much faster.”Juventus has very good reasons (financially) to win the Coppa Italia this season. Reaching the final is worth at least €5M, lifting the trophy is worth €7.6M. If Juve win the Coppa, will play in the Supercoppa in 2025, with the new formula which puts up a jackpot of €23M in a… pic.twitter.com/st63uqsS3q— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) April 23, 2024 What else does Vlahović notice when it comes to modern football? Ubiquitous statistics. Although it is not all-seeing either. In this part of the interview he talks about his role models from childhood.”Cristiano Ronaldo, of course, whom I followed when he was playing on the left wing in Manchester United. I liked his movements and killer instinct, I think he is one of the best in history. I also liked Zlatan Ibrahimovic a lot, as well as Fernando Torres when he had slightly longer hair, from his time in Liverpool. Then Karim Benzema, a player I admire. Mbappe is very strong, he is 25 years old, and he won almost everything, scored 40 goals in the season. Giroud is also a giant! Today, statistics demand more and more space, but they don’t tell how important one player is for the team.”The following is an explanation that everyone will understand.”When France won the World Cup in 2018, the numbers said that Giroud scored zero goals. But without him, France would not have won the World Cup. All that ‘dirty’ work he did, his passes, the way he stretched the opposing defenses… He was one of the key players in that triumph.”Vlahović, on the other hand, is a somewhat different player, a centre-forward primarily focused on goals. He scored 16 in the championship this season as well and is the second top scorer in Serie A, behind Lautaro Martinez (23).”Last season I didn’t feel good physically, so it was the way it was. I really suffered. This season I feel good, that’s the only thing that has changed, everything else is the same. I’m working hard, focusing on recovery. This season I scored 17 goals, including the Italian Cup, but I could have done much more.”They’re finally not just Pipo’s brother and Lilian’s sonAnd although Dušan is certainly the best player of Juventus this season, he himself has much higher aspirations for the future.”Someone plays for money, I’m not interested in that. I want to be a player that people will remember. I dream of winning the Ballon d’Or. But first a lot has to come together. Of course, the Ballon d’Or is the goal. You play for glory and trophies,” the 24-year-old footballer is confident.So he has time to make his dreams come true. The first of many may come this season already. Tonight Juventus face Lazio in the Italian Cup semi-finals rematch. The Bianconeri have a 2-0 advantage from the first clash. Also, at the end of the season, they will fight to keep the place that means the next Champions League campaign, which is within reach of the Turin Old Lady after a one-year ‘exile’.”It would be wonderful if we achieved both goals, although we cannot be completely satisfied, because that is the mentality of this club, its historical need is to win titles. We had a chance, but it means nothing to us that we held on until February. That doesn’t count. The line is drawn at the end of May. It’s a pity, even though we still have a lot to play for.”And after the summer? Juventus? Or Paris Saint-Germain? Maybe Chelsea?”I saw in the newspaper, but I don’t know anything. Right now I’m just thinking about how to prepare for a good season. The future? Two years have passed here and I am lucky to be at Juventus. That’s my answer: I want to win something important at Juventus first. We will talk later,” Vlahović hinted that he would stay in Turin.Just in the day when there are rumors about a new contract with Juve worth 12,000,000 euros per season. Hmm, is that by accident or by design?Behind The Scenes – Dusan #Vlahovic has turned down a very rich bid from a top Saudi Club last summer. #Juventus and his agent are in talks to try to extend the contract but there is no agreement to spread&reduce the salary, as of now. He will earn 12M/year from July to June 2026— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) April 23, 2024 COPPA ITALIASemifinalsTuesday22:00: (2.70) Lazio (3.05) Juventus (2.80) /first match 0-2/Wednesday22:00: (1.85) Atalanta (3.60) Fiorentina (4.30) /first match 0-1/***odds are subject to change***
