Aleksandar Stankovic has given his first interview since re-joining Inter after a successful year in Belgium with Club Brugge, has spoken about the prospect of following in his father Dejan’s footsteps in San Siro and says that he considers Federico Dimarco and agemate Pio Esposito to be as close a ‘brothers’.
Stankovic follows in his father’s footsteps: ‘My dream to play for Inter’
Stankovic became Inter’s first signing of the summer transfer window at the beginning of June when he returned to the Nerazzurri in a €23m transfer from Club Brugge.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined Club Brugge in a €9.5m deal last summer, but Inter retained a buy-back option which has since been activated after an impressive campaign in Belgium.
Inter confirmed Stankovic’s signing on June 5, but ‘presented’ him in front of the club’s media on Tuesday (July 7).
“It’s impossible to put into words. I started playing football because of Inter, because my dream was to play at San Siro. It’s a feeling I’m still trying to process,” the Serbia international said in his first interview on the club website.
Speaking of his experience in Belgium, Stankovic said: “It was an amazing experience. I learned so much, both on and off the pitch. Club Brugge is a fantastic club. They place a huge emphasis on developing young players in every aspect, and they helped me enormously. I’ll always be grateful to them.”
Stankovic is a player that is well known to Nerazzurri head coach Cristian Chivu, who coached the midfielder during his time in charge of the club’s youth teams.
“He had a huge impact on my career. He took me under his wing when I was still just a kid in the Primavera and only starting out in serious football,” said Stankovic.
“He taught me so much, both on and off the pitch. He helped me truly understand what football is all about and that, ultimately, what matters is what you produce on the pitch if you want to win. I’ll always be grateful to him, and I’m delighted to be working with him again.”
Stankovic is the second member of his family to play for Inter, following in the footsteps of his father Dejan, who spent nine years in San Siro and was part of the squad that won the treble under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10.
“He’s probably even more excited than I am, just like my brothers and my mum. For us, as a family of Inter fans, with a father who played for Inter and won everything here, this really is a dream come true. We’re all delighted, and I’m sure he’s proud of me too.”
Where does Stankovic see himself fitting in under Chivu?
“That will become clearer once I start working with the coach and understand his ideas, which I’m sure have evolved since we were together in the Primavera. There are still a lot of things I need to learn, but training alongside so many top players will help me improve even more. I can’t wait to get started. I’ll do everything I can to help the team with the experience I’ve gained so far.”
Stankovic insists that he doesn’t need much of a ‘settling-in period’ given that he spent the entirety of his youth career with Inter, playing alongside the likes of Pio Esposito.
“I speak regularly with Pio and Federico Dimarco. Federico is like an older brother to me. We talk almost every day and have a special bond. Pio and I first played together in the Under-12s, if I remember correctly, so he’s also like a brother to me.”
Ending with a final message for the Nerazzurri supporters, Stankovic said: “I’m really looking forward to seeing them again at the stadium, this time as a player rather than a supporter. I hope I can give them plenty to cheer about, and I can’t wait to hear them chanting my name.”
