THE REDEMPTION OF ALEKSANDRA MITROVIC

Aleksandra Mitrovic was born on 16^th September 1994 in Smederevo, Serbia. He joined the Partizan youth system in 2005 at the age of ten and spent the next six years polishing and perfecting his skills. He then made his senior debut with affiliated side Teleoptik, where he scored seven times in 25 league outings during the 2011/12 season.

In the summer of 2012, Mitrovic secured his first professional contract with Partizan, signing a four-year deal. He made 28 league appearances in the 2012/13 campaign, scoring 13 goals, which convinced Anderlecht to pay a club-record transfer fee of €5 million for his services

During his first year in Belgium, Mitrovic scored16 goals in 32 league appearances, and also registered six assists. In the 2014-2015 seasons, he was even more prolific, netting 20 times in 37 league outings making him the competition's top scorer, while the Serbian also provided four assists, and scored two goals in five Champions League appearances, including a late equalizer in a 3-3 draw against Arsenal. He scored 28 goals in all competitions

Later that summer (2015), Mitrović joined Newcastle United on a five-year deal for a fee of £13 million. He scored 9 goals in 34 league appearances for Newcastle. He was also sent off twice in his debut season and his unpredictable temperament drew criticism. He had a bad disciplinary record as was evidenced during his Anderlecht days. In nine games against Club Brugge, the biggest fixture in Belgian football, he was sent off twice and booked four times. Mitrovic was signed to Newcastle by Steve McLaren, but things seemed to go downhill for him when the former was replaced by Rafa Benitez.  Benitez didn’t trust Mitrovic due to his temperament issues, preferring to use Dwight Gyale, Ayoze Perez and Joselu .

On 1 February 2018 Mitrović joined Championship club Fulham on loan until the end of the season. In the build up to deadline day, Mitrović was poised to join Bordeaux and then former club Anderlecht, but both moves broke down, and after a discussion with Fulham manager, and fellow Serb Slaviša Jokanovic on Snap chat, he decided to join Fulham. He found a new lease of life under Slaviša Jokanovic who trusted hum more and managed to control his temper. The 23 year old reminded everyone of his quality, scoring 12 goals in 17 appearances to help the south-west London side to promotion to the premier league via the play-offs. Mitrovic also criticized the tactics and playing style of Benitez, claiming difference in playing styles has also enabled him to shine, saying that he prefers the attacking set-up at Craven Cottage. “This season, this team, we always try to score more goals than the opponent,” he said. “Newcastle was more tactically [set up]. “We didn’t play as much attacking football as I play now.” He has also been perfect for Fulham’s system as Jokanovic’s side favour wing play, which entails playing the ball wide to utilise their pacy wingers and full-backs, and then cross into the box for the big Serb to attack.

On 30 July, Mitrović joined Fulham on a permanent deal for an initial fee of £22 million, potentially rising to £27 million. He signed a five-year contract lasting to the summer of 2023, and was assigned the number 9 shirt. He has started this season with a bang by scoring 3 goals in 3 games. He scored the equaliser in an eventual 3–1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, with a superb header from a low cross by Ryan Sessegnon. He also scored a quick fire double in Fulhams 4-2 victory over Burnley. Mitrovic’s strength is in holding up and linking up play, as well as being very adept with his back to goal. But he is a very strong presence in the opposition penalty area, and by the evidence of his scoring he knows where the back of the net is.

Mitrovic is on hand to be top scorer for Fulham this season provided he doesn’t sustain any serious injuries. Although it’s too early to call, from the evidence of the fortunes of Fulham and Newcastle at the start of the season, it seems like it is Fulham and Mitrovic who have got the better deal ahead of Newcastle and Benitez.