Kostic, the little Vlahovic in AC Milan’s sights

Milan’s Andrej Kostic already knows something about it. One of his best friends is called Milan Roganovic, he is two years older than him and plays as a full-back for Partizan Belgrade. They are both Montenegrin and have bonded over a few months. Soon they could continue to cultivate their relationship, but at a distance, because AC Milan, the Rossoneri side, is close to signing him. Whether or not it is a sign of destiny to go and play in a team that bears the name of a dear friend, it doesn’t matter. Kostic’s story starts from a YouTube video from ten years ago, in which he enjoys jumping everyone.

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Kostic owes everything to his mother, a reference figure in his life. “She always took me to training, watched me from the stands in the cold and was the first to believe in my career.” Andrej, born in 2007, was born and raised in Podgorica, with a ball full of hope under his arm. He started in a football school near his home and his first coach was Roganovic, Milan’s father, now his best friend. Destiny, here too. His adolescence was dotted with local tournaments. A video dating back to ten years ago can still be found on YouTube in which, in over five minutes, the games of an eight-year-old child who had something more than the others are summarized. Kostic, on a five-a-side football pitch, can be seen dribbling, shooting from distance, scoring penalties, playing with the sole and slipping through the opposition. Ball glued to the foot, progression from defense to attack and goals. The video, titled “Andrej Kostic, football talent from Montenegro“, opens with a technical sheet that today resonates almost prophetic: “Strong with both feet, great feeling with the goal.” The tournament was called Fan Cup 2015: Kostic was skinny, blond and with an already evident hunger.

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Buducnost has always been the team of his heart: he grew up there in the youth sector and there he made his professional debut. Last season he scored 4 goals in 4 Youth League games, confirming his talent. The declared dreams are three: winning the Champions League, the Ballon d’Or and playing for Partizan Belgrade. He achieved the latter a few months ago, moving to Serbia, in a hot, renowned and demanding place. In the championship he scored 8 goals in 20 appearances, only four as a starter: not bad numbers for an 18-year-old in his second year among the professionals. Kostic, in recent years, has had evident physical growth: 188 centimeters, slender structure and great strength in his legs. When he landed in Belgrade, many were exposed to a comparison with Dusan Vlahovic, also because of the same agent. The differences, however, are evident between the two. Vlahovic is left-footed and more instinctive, Kostic is right-footed, technical and more inclined to dialogue with his teammates. Both are fast, effective in attacking depth and shooting from medium to long distances. Vlahovic was launched by Partizan at 16, Andrej at 18, but is already close to double figures in goals halfway through the season.

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Kostic also holds a Serbian passport, but has chosen to represent Montenegro. He made his debut with the senior national team on 9 October against the Faroes, finding space in the last eight minutes of the match. On 5 September, with the Under 21s, he scored against Italy in a 2-1 defeat in the qualifiers for the next European Championship. He feels the door naturally and embodies the most authentic Balkan spirit: fierce, determined. His idols are Stevan Jovetic and Predrag Mijatovic, historic center forward of Partizan in the 90s, who also played for Fiorentina. Milan would initially take the Youtube boy to help him grow in Serie D with Milan Futuro, even if he will not run away from the sight of Max Allegri. On the other hand, between San Siro and the Chinetti in Solbiate Arno, for a boy who learned to dream on a reinforced concrete pitch under his house, little changes.