Official start of pre-season

Although Partizan squad had medicals and trained for a week already, pre-season started today officially with return of the number of players who had extended break due to international duty.

Teleoptik centre-back Luka Subotic and Partizan youth Mateja Djordjevic are training with the first team while 19=year-old keeper Lazar Slavkovic will be part of Slovenia pre-season preps.

Bibars Natcho and Seydouba Soumah will join the squad before Partizan departs for Slovenia on 24^th of June while Filip Holender is away with Hungarian national team and will return on 12^th of July.

Forward Jean Cristophe Bahebeck is yet to return as well.

FK Partizan President Miroslav Vucelic, General Director Milos Vazura and Head Coach Aleksandar Stanojevic all addressed official pre-season meeting.

“You put up a heroic battle in a cup final, achieved glorious winning streak last season and I expect you to continue with such results this season. I see many known faces but there are a few new ones and we have great expectations of all of you. Let the Partizan crest be your incentive. All of you who are new to Partizan should know that this is going to be a massive stepping stone in your career and something priceless in your resume.

I have to say Aleksandar Stanojevic had a full trust of all of us here and he fully deserves it after two spells with Partizan. We had two drought years trophy-wise and Partizan is big club due to wins, triumphs and glory that goes along. Of course, there are few bitter defeat along the way and we all find it hard when it happens. But, there are no excuses or regrets, no talks about injustice. We are here to make years ahead of us fruitful.

There`s saying “never fight on two fronts” but we are going forward to battles on three competitive fronts this season. I wish you lots of luck and success. Long live Partizan!”, said FK Partizan President Milorad Vucelic.

FK Partizan General Director Milos Vazura spoke about arrivals and departures:

“We signed some players and there are ongoing negotiations with two more, they are close to sign for Partizan. These are not players coming on a free transfer but I believe they`ll be with us in 3 or 4 days. They are foreigners attached to their respective clubs, that`s why it`s taking us so long.

Danilo Pantic returned on a full contract, we signed Sanicanin on a free transfer, we were in touch with him since March. We expect a lot from both players.

Our departure list is long, some players are up for sale and some of them are released – Luka Cucin, Denis Stojkovic and few youngsters. We have to reduce the costs, to sell or loan number of players, while we also have to reduce the amount offered to some of the players who are about to extend the contract with the club. Otherwise, we`ll have to offer them to transfer market too.

It remains to be seen how much we will reduce our budget as we have to invest in new transfers if we want to battle for the title and play a role in European competitions.

We talk with Bahebeck, he`ll be back with us. Soumah is Partizan player, he is going to Slovenia preps and things can change only in case of interesting offers for Guinean. We`ll sit and talk, see what`s best for the player in agreement with him”.

Partizan boss Aleksandar Stanojevic addressed the players too:

“Partizan crest is incentive not a burden. It`s a duty for all of us to feel an emotion for everything Partizan stands for. This season, we can play a good football game and show great fighting spirit but we need to win one trophy at least. That`s really important for us. Title is the most important and we`ll try to attack this trophy in a true Partizan spirit. Good luck and welcome!”.

PHOTO GALLERY: MIROSLAV TODOROVIC