That of the Serbian center forward is a particular story made of uncomfortable sacrifices and labels: for everyone it was the Serbian Falcao
There are nights that change prospects and, above all, judgments. Luka Jovic took 49 minutes of a rainy Wednesday evening to overturn his season and, in a small part, that of Milan. The man who, until a month ago, looked at his companions from the bench and suffered from continuous injuries, for once he gave himself a hero evening with a brace in the derby that sent Milan in the Italian Cup final after seven years. His is a particular story, made of sacrifices, uncomfortable labels and … threats that could have cost him his career. We present the number nine of Milan, told through some anecdotes.
sacrifices
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Jovic started out of nowhere. Born in Serbia but raised in Bosnia from a very poor family, everything owes to her dad … Milan. A name, a destiny. Jovic Senior was a professional footballer, but of little success. Better then to focus everything on Luka, who already scored Triplette at five years in every youth tournament. The two traveled 200 kilometers every day in the car to reach Sarajevo, where little Jovic trained with local teams. A life lived in constant journey, between nights spent watching the stars from the rear seats of the car and dreams grown between one trip and another. The Luka Jovic who spread Inter at San Siro was born right there: between silent sacrifices and hopes with turns off.
Threats to the Father
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At eight, Jovic is noticed by an observer of the Red Star, who tested him in 2005. Partizan also wanted it, but Luka said no. It was that boy with a clean face, the helmet hair, the visible eyes and the genuine smile of those who, shortly thereafter, would have arrived in the first team to the sound of goals in the youth. Then, the dark moment: just before the transition to Benfica, the father receives threats from some blackmailed who ask for money. The message was chilling: if he hadn’t paid, Luka would have been stalked. Milan Jovic denounced everything, but it was clear that for his son the time in Serbia was over. Luka left for Portugal.
uncomfortable and record labels
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Jovic has lived all his career under pressure. The expectations, sometimes bulky, accompanied him from a very young age. Especially in his golden period at the Ointracht which then led him to Real Madrid with a boulder on his shoulders. In Spain he immediately ended up at the center of controversy for an escape in full Covid to celebrate the girlfriend’s birthday in Belgrade. To the Red Star he scored 13 goals and 4 assists in two years, for everyone it was the “New Falcao”. Or, better, the “Serbian Falcao”. A heavy investiture, confirmed by a predestined debut: on May 28, 2014, at 16 years, 5 months and 5 days, he became the youngest marker in the history of the Red Star, overcoming Dejan Stankovic. That goal at Vojvodina, who set the result on 3-3, earned the national title.
religion
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Luka has always believed. In life, in faith, and in the possibility of returning to the game. He waited silently his moment, getting used to entering the last twenty minutes and trying to leave his mark. And that moment came: a spring night in San Siro, in the rain, which seemed to have come out of one of Milan’s large European companies. On the chest, he tattooed the face of Jesus with his eyes closed, a symbol of introspection, of reflection on emotions and thoughts. Sensations that perhaps Jovic had never tried until 78 ‘, when he came out among the applause of the Rossoneri audience.
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