Sometimes as a footballer you look back and regret your decisions. Rejecting Real Madrid would be one such decision. But former Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetić takes a different approach.
He’s been reflecting on his playing career this week – he now plays for AEL Limassol – after spells all around Europe to date. The 36-year-old has enjoyed a varied career, to say the least.
Career around Europe
He began his career in Serbia but has played in Italy with Fiorentina and Inter Milan, England with Manchester City, Spain with Sevilla, Germany with Hertha BSC, Greece with Olympiacos and now Cyprus with Limassol. Oh, and there was a stint in Monaco as well.
The most successful period came early on at Fiorentina, where he scored 40 goals and registered 21 assists in 135 games for the club.
That eventually saw him move to Manchester City in 2013 for a €26m fee. 11 goals and five assists in 44 games followed at the Etihad, before he eventually left on loan in 2015. A permanent move to Inter followed in 2017.
Real Madrid call
But before all that, Real Madrid had come calling. That’s an offer that most wouldn’t be able to turn down. But he said no, a decision he now reflects on when asked about any potential regrets.
“Perhaps a footballing decision: during my second year in Florence, I got a call from Real Madrid, but at that moment, I didn’t feel ready to go,” Calciomercato report him saying.
“I was starting to play regularly; I was happy and settled, so I told myself, ‘I’ll play another year or two here and then go.’
“In the end, I never went to Real Madrid, but I played nearly 150 matches for La Viola and went on to play for Manchester City, Inter, Monaco, and Sevilla… I’ve certainly moved around a fair bit.”
