Signed from Red Star’s youth team back in 2017, Ivan Ilić was always going to be one for the future at Manchester City.
The Serbian midfielder went straight back on loan to his club until December 2018, before being sent on two loans, first to FK Zemun and then NAC Breda last year.
Then came a decision, as the 19-year-old was showing promise, but his way to the first-team under Pep Guardiola was too packed.
That’s when Hellas Verona came in, securing a temporary deal for the youngster with an option to buy him outright at the end of the season.
The figure of said clause is debated still, with some feeling it’s €12m, while TuttoMercatoWeb reckon it’s around €8-10m, but the key in all this is Manchester City’s counter clause, where they can bring him back for a reported €24m.
Even if Verona were to buy him, Ivan Juric, their manager, believed there was little chance of his starlet staying for long, with it claimed he could head back to the Etihad.
This is somewhat corroborated by the aforementioned TuttoMercatoWeb on Tuesday, who explain ‘the future intention does not seem to lose him along the way’, with Ilic’s destiny already ‘sealed’.
It’s also stated the reports landing on Guardiola’s desk from the loan manager are ‘always with enthusiastic tones’.
It took just ‘one hour’ for Hellas’ director of football to fall in love with Ilić, but it seems they will only enjoy him for a short period of time.
