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WHAT HAPPENED?
Nicknamed “Little Messi” due to his technical finesse and dynamism, Maksimovic has quickly risen as one of Serbia’s most promising young talents. With just three league matches under his belt this season, he has already scored twice and provided two assists, sparking supposed interest from top European clubs such as Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Liverpool.
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AFPTHE BIGGER PICTURE
On the other hand, Barcelona bring along one of the world’s most talked-about teenage talents and a European Championship winner in Yamal. Like Maksimovic, Yamal is only 17, but the Spaniard has already sparked widespread comparisons to other legends of the sport with his playmaking ability and footballing IQ. However, Maksimovic appears undaunted by the challenge of facing off against Yamal and Barcelona and instead views it as an opportunity to cement his place among Europe’s top young prospects.
WHAT MAKSIMOVIC SAID
Speaking ahead of the match, Maksimovic told reporters: “We met up at the European Championship. A brilliant player, as well as [Pau] Cubarsi. We’re the same age, tomorrow I’ll go out and show that I’m better than him [Yamal].”
When asked if he felt any nerves or fear about the highly anticipated European encounter, Maksimovic dismissed the notion and said: “Of course, I’m not nervous, this is what I’ve been waiting for. This is the Champions League, this is our stadium. The stands will be full and I’m glad I’ll be playing against the great Barcelona.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Maksimovic recently made history by becoming the youngest player ever to debut for the Serbian national team, a testament to his rapid ascent in the footballing world. He acknowledged that his playing style draws comparisons to Messi, a player he idolises but was quick to add that he hopes to be recognised in his own right.
“Messi is my idol, but I would like to be remembered as Andrija Maksimovic,” he said.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
As the Serbian crowd rallies behind Maksimovic and Crvena Zvezda, Barcelona may face a formidable challenge to get the three points in front of 50,000 rival fans. This game is Barcelona’s second-to-last fixture before the international break, with their final match being an away game against Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday.
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