Signing for Manchester United is a dream come true for many players, but one player had that opportunity cruelly snatched away from him.
Manchester United saw one Serbian star become a hero at Old Trafford with Nemanja Vidic becoming a fan favourite.
Vidic arrived from Spartak Moscow in 2006 and went on to rack up more than 200 Premier League appearances for United.
Vidic was ‘so bad’ in training when he first arrived but Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney were eventually convinced.
United tried to repeat the trick by singing two Serbian talents in January 2009, snapping up Partizan duo Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajic.
Tosic joined immediately but made little impact before joining CSKA Moscow in 2010.
Ljajic’s situation was a little different as the teenager – then dubbed ‘the Serbian Kaka’ – had his United deal ripped away.
Manchester United cancelled Adem Ljajic deal
Ljajic was only 18 at the time of United’s deal and he had been tipped for a huge future.
United’s deal – a £16.5million double agreement for Ljajic and Tosic according to The Guardian – featured a get-out clause.
That meant that United could pull out of a final deal for Ljajic, and did so in December 2009, less than a year after agreeing to sign him.
It was suggested that Ljajic hadn’t impressed in training sessions with United and hadn’t been developing as hoped at Partizan.
Ljajic’s United dream was scuppered in rapid fashion, but he didn’t have to wait too long for another transfer.
Fiorentina pounced in January 2010, signing Ljajic just a month after United snubbed the playmaker, causing Ljajic to be branded a ‘ghost transfer’ at Old Trafford by the Manchester Evening News.
Ljajic carved out a strong career for himself in Europe, featuring for Fiorentina, Roma, Inter Milan, Torino, Besiktas and Fatih Karagumruk.
West Bromwich Albion wanted Ljajic in 2020 but a Premier League move seemingly just wasn’t meant to be for the Serbian.
Adem Ljajic named MVP in Serbian football
Now 33, Ljajic is shining with his hometown club whilst Tosic recently retired at the age of 37.
Ljajic hails from Novi Pazar in Serbia and joined FK Novi Pazar in 2023, deciding on an emotional move after a difficult spell with Fatih Karagumruk.
Ljajic hit eight goals and five assists in 20 league games for Novi Pazar last season and has arguably been even better this term.
The playmaker has already racked up seven goals and six assists in 18 games with his exceptional displays now being recognised.
Mozzart Sport have named Ljajic as the MVP of the Serbian top flight for 2024, praising him as the best player despite Novi Pazar sitting 10th in the table.
Ljajic has been so good that there are murmurings of a potential January move away from the club.
Ljajic told Mozzart Sport that he can’t promise anything, but wants to make sure that he finishes his career with hometown club Novi Pazar one way or another.
“I don’t know what will happen in January. I can’t even promise anything. The worst thing is that there is is a problem for Novi Pazar and for me. I repeat, my heart prevailed and I will definitely give my best. And if I happen to leave, I will definitely return to Pazar finish my career. That’s my wish,” said Ljajic.
Ljajic may well make a big move in January but returning home has rejuvenated his career and put him back on the radar of interested clubs.
The move to United didn’t go to plan at all but Ljajic has found happiness in other ways in the near-16 years since his Old Trafford dream collapsed.
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