(Montreal) Djordje Mihailovic had made no secret of his goal of playing in Europe and he can thank CF Montreal for giving him this important springboard in his career.
Posted at 2:12 p.m.
A little over 24 hours after the confirmation of his transfer to AZ Alkmaar, a club that plays in the best league in the Netherlands (Eredivisie), Mihailovic had only good words for the Bleu-blanc-noir, and mainly for sports director Olivier Renard and head coach Wilfried Nancy.
Acquired from the Chicago Fire in December 2020, the 23-year-old midfielder excelled in a CF Montreal uniform – and he will have the opportunity to do so again – until being at the heart of the most important transfer of the history of the Montreal team.
Renard, who would not confirm the financial details of the agreement, indicated that the discussions of the transfer of Mihailovic date from yesterday and that several teams inquired about his services.
The sporting director, however, wanted to do things the right way by involving Mihailovic, who already had AZ Alkmaar in high regard.
“There were other clubs interested in Djordje. We could have gotten a few hundred thousand dollars more by waiting for other clubs, but that was not our goal. I wanted to work hand in hand with Djordje and his representative. Work with your choices,” insisted Renard.
The latter remembers his first telephone conversations with Mihailovic. The desire to cross the Atlantic was already very well known, but Renard let him know that he could offer him an important role in Montreal, while increasing his chances of achieving his dream.
“It was important for Djordje to hear that he could come here, offer the best possible performances and when a club would be interested, we would be open to discuss. I’ve always said it, it’s not a prison here. I want there to be emotions on the pitch and with the fans and Djordje is very grateful for what we have done for him,” explained Renard.
Mihailovic also remembers those talks.
“When I spoke with Olivier, at the end of 2020, I could feel that he really wanted to have me in Montreal. I had to trust him and I did 100%. I felt in his words that his interest was real. And what he said happened,” the American said.
Mihailovic quickly made his mark with CF Montreal and he was named the team’s most valuable player for the 2021 season. His 16 assists even broke Ignacio Piatti’s record (13), set in 2018.
Aided by the guidance of Nancy and her coaching staff, Mihailovic was able to develop as a player and he was able to gain some fame through MLS.
“I accepted the challenges here and grew. The coaches and the team have given me a platform where I can just show who I am as a player and as a person, he argued. Wilfried was tough on me, but he took me under his wing. I will never regret having made the decision to come to Montreal because it made me take two or three steps forward in my career. »
Raised as head coach of CF Montreal before the start of the 2021 season, Nancy saw in Mihailovic a very good project to develop. The two men have almost come to maintain a close relationship.
“I cheated on my wife,” Nancy laughed. It’s a professional relationship, but it’s also a relationship that we live in a couple, quite simply. At times I had to be brutally honest with him and at other times I had to be close to him. There were a lot of demands on the player, but also a lot of empathy and benevolence towards the person. That’s what I think had to be done with him. Djordje was an interesting project and I’m happy because it tells me that maybe I’m not too bad as a coach. »
The Montreal team currently sits second in the Eastern Conference with eight games remaining and is on track to have the best season in its history in MLS.
It was also important for Mihailovic to stay in Montreal to complete what he and his teammates started. Especially since the American only participated in one playoff game and the result was not positive.
“I wanted to finish the season in MLS. This is what I wanted and what I had to do. It would have been difficult to leave the team at this time of the season when we are doing so well, he expressed. I played one game in my career in the playoffs and we lost 4-0. My first goal is to win a playoff game and then win the MLS Cup. That’s why I’m happy to stay here, because we’re in a good position to do both of those things. »
Renard said he was very grateful for AZ Alkmaar’s flexibility in this matter and for allowing Mihailovic to conclude the season in Montreal.
“I thank AZ Alkmaar because it was good for Djordje to continue the season and maybe participate in the Soccer World Cup. Coming to a new environment, in the first four or five games, he might have only played 15 or 20 minutes. They understood that for him, to stay here and have the maximum number of minutes, it could also help him in view of the World Cup, ”supported Renard.
Chance does things well for Mihailovic, who will return to the CF Montreal squad for their match against the Fire on Saturday. He will be able to spend time with his family, who told him of the death of his grandmother on Wednesday.