Bayern's Pavlovic turns down Serbian FA's approach for now
Rising FC Bayern München midfield prospect Aleksandar Pavlovic has opted to fob off the Serbian FA's attempts to recruit him for now. This has been confirmed by the Serbian national team director on the association's website, who also admitted that the "White Eagles" offered him the prospect of playing at this coming summer's Euros.
According to Dr. Vladimir Milutinovic, a contributing writer to Germany's preeminent footballing publication, the 19-year-old (capped twice at Germany's U20 level) reportedly wishes to wait and see if Germany U21 head-coach Antonio di Salvo might call him up during the forthcoming international break.
Aleksandar Pavlovic's recent breakthrough in the starting XI of German giants FC Bayern München has not gone unnoticed by the Serbian FA. The official website of the "White Eagles" quotes Serbian national team director Stevan Stojanovic as confirming that a delegation traveled to Munich to offer up a pitch to the 19-year-old.
According to Dr. Vladimir Milutinovic, a contributing writer to Germany's preeminent footballing publication, the 19-year-old (capped twice at Germany's U20 level) reportedly wishes to wait and see if Germany U21 head-coach Antonio di Salvo might call him up during the forthcoming international break.
Stojanovic's statement effectively concedes that Serbian national coach Dragan Stojkovic wished to call the teenage talent up immediately in the current month's international break. The Serbian FA lobbied Pavlovic and his family for "months" with "intense" and "direct talks" promising "direct integration into the senior national team".
Despite this, Pavlovic has declined to switch allegiances. The Munich native and Bayern academy graduate went so far as to defer any decision - according to Stojanovic - until "after the Euros". Dr. Vladimir Milutinovic - a contributing writer to Germany's Kicker Magazine - strongly suggests that Pavlovic wishes to represent the Bundesrepublik.
Pavlovic was initially invited to train with the Bayern professionals by current Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann. It remains doubtful - particularly in light of the return of Toni Kroos to the German national team - that Nagelsmann will have time to give Pavlovic an audition this month. A call-up by Germany U21 national team trainer Antonio di Salvo nevertheless seems likely.
Pavlovic has not yet been capped at Germany's highest youth level, largely because his breakthrough at Bayern came after the last international break in November. Since then, the youngster has netted two league goals and registered one assist in his seven league starts. Pavlovic has started the last six fixtures for Tuchel's FCB across all competitions, including last night's UCL win.