Marko Lazetic fires Aberdeen Europa League warning to uncle if their paths cross after playoff round
The Serbian striker has arrived from AC Milan and wants to make Euro adventure a family affair if FCSB are seen off over two legs
Aberdeen new boy Marko Lazetic would love a crack at his uncle in the Europa League group stages.
The striker has finally completed his long-awaited move to Pittodrie from AC Milan.
The Serbian is now waiting for clearance to make his debut and he is hoping the Dons can get past FCSB in the play-off round, which kicks off at home on Thursday.
His uncle, Zarko Lazetic, is currently coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv and his team are also in the play-off round, where they take on Dynamo Kyiv.
Lazetic confirmed: “My uncle is the coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv and I would love to play them in Europe.
“I know he would make a special tactic for me!
“He would try to push me around a bit more, but I would love that and love to score a goal against his team!
“I played European football last season in the Conference League when I was on loan, so hopefully this year we can step up to the Europa.
“It will be a great experience for the players here.”
Aberdeen first made a move for the Serbian under-21 cap in January but couldn’t get him out of his loan at TSC.
Lazetic moved to AC Milan as an 18 year-old but spent most of his time there out on loan at Rheindorf Attach, Fortuna Sittard and TSC.
He admitted Jimmy Thelin and his team rolled out the welcome mat for him to call Aberdeen home.
Lazetic admitted: “We had a hard time to get a deal between the clubs but from the beginning, I was like I want to get here as soon as possible.
“It feels amazing to be here. It was a long process and a period of time where I was waiting and this and that was happening.
“The first interest was in January. I liked the project of the club then, but it didn’t really happen with all the other clubs I was involved with. Summer came, they called again and they said they wanted to get me.
“First, I spoke with Nuno (de Almeida) , the head of recruitment and then I spoke to the manager and Steven (Gunn, director of football). I got the same energy from all of them.
“I loved the way they talked about me and did their analysis of me. I feel it is a place where I can grow as a footballer and as a person. That is the most important thing to be wanted at the place you are going.
“So you can be accepted from the moment you come here and to show your talent and everything you have been working on to show your best way possible.
“Finally, I am here and happy to be here and I am ready to get to work.”
Lazetic has done his homework on the Scottish Cup winners and the two stars on his new jersey.
He stated: “I did know a little bit about them and that they were European Cup Winners in 1983. I also watched a bit of the game where they won the cup. Hopefully, when I come here we can continue that winning history and win some more trophies.
“I will try to help the team in the best way possible. My job as a striker is to score a lot of goals and bring trophies here.”
Things may not have worked out the way he hoped at AC Milan and Lazetic claimed it gave him an invaluable experience, training with legends like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Olivier Giroud.
The forward, speaking to RedTV, confirmed: “I had a plan that as soon as I turned 18 I would go away to a big club. It happened three days after I turned 18 with AC Milan.
“The beginning was a little bit difficult. My body wasn’t ready for it. I wanted it and had the will and work rate but it wasn’t the time for it. “Ibra and Giroud were there. “It is not as if you can get a chance next to them, you need to really earn it.
“It is inspiring when you work with players like that everyday. You want to work more and try to be better than them. You learn so much every day. “Ibra, he wasn’t training a lot because he was injured.
“Sometimes, even when he was training you could see the quality he had and the way he was doing things. “I tried to pick it up and put it in my daily routine.”