Djordje Mihailovic is in the process of getting along with a European club. The CF Montreal star player was absent from the lineup on Saturday night at Stade Saputo, due to a “potential transfer in progress”.
Updated yesterday at 10:54 p.m.
According to several media, Mihailovic would take over the management of AZ Alkmaar, a club playing in the Dutch first division.
On TVA Sports, sports director Olivier Renard confirmed that there was a “pre-agreement with a European club”. He stressed that it was “the wish of the player”, that the club had given him his “authorization to travel”, and that he had to be patient “a few more days” to formalize everything.
Speaking of travel, Renard therefore hints that Mihailovic is currently in Europe, presumably to finalize the transfer and undergo the necessary medical tests.
“We respect his choice,” adds the sporting director, who also said that more details would be revealed shortly.
Head coach Wilfried Nancy did not want to expand on the subject at a press conference after his team’s 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
There is an imminent transfer that will take place, and I will not answer other questions in relation to Djordje.
Wilfried Nancy, head coach of CF Montreal
Kamal Miller and Samuel Piette both preferred not to comment on the news after Saturday night’s game.
With the CFM until January?
Earlier Saturday, a source referred to The Press the possibility of an official announcement from CF Montreal at the beginning of the week.
The news about it was first reported by KAN FC podcast reporter Sydney Fowo on Saturday morning. Before Tom Bogert, the MLS informant, confirmed the rumor at the start of the evening.
KAN FC revealed in the morning that the club’s attacking midfielder was “targeted” by the Dutch club. “Subject to the medical visit”, added Fowo on Twitter.
Jérémy Filosa, of 98.5 FM, says Mihailovic will remain on loan in Montreal to finish the season. This would delay his departure to the next international transfer window, in January.
With the transfer market closed in MLS for incoming players, Mihailovic could not leave the club and return on loan, according to league rules. If the transaction was actually concluded, it would be more likely that the three parties agree on a transfer which would not come into effect until next January.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Djordje Mihailovic
spark plug
Djordje Mihailovic is in his second year in Montreal, after his transfer from the Chicago Fire in December 2020. Chicago had also kept 10% of the possible resale value of the player during this transaction.
He quickly became the offensive spark plug for CFM. In addition to his 4 goals, he had recorded 16 assists in 2021, a record number for a Montreal player.
The American has found his scoring touch in 2022, with 7 goals and 4 assists in 20 games. Prior to his injury in May, he was a potential candidate for MLS Most Valuable Player.
Since returning to the game in July, he has struggled to find his bearings. Mihailovic compared this period to a kind of “pre-season”. He finally managed to impose his game last week in Houston.