He is already a regular player at FC Bayern and is supposed to replace Toni Kroos at the DFB. Aleksandar Pavlović is the most mature 20-year-old in German football.
When Aleksandar Pavlović enters the room, the number is already there: 50 million. This should be his new market value, calculated in euros, according to the Transfermarkt portal. This would make Pavlović the newcomer of the year. From 30 million to 50 million, no other Bundesliga player has currently seen such an explosion in prices. And if you consider that Pavlović was playing in the regional league just over a year ago, against clubs like Bubach, Aubstadt or Aschaffenburg, then these 50 million seem even more enormous and unreal.
Or not, Aleksandar Pavlović?
What does this number do to you?
Pavlović is sitting in a conference room in Herzogenaurach on Wednesday; Here, on the premises of a sporting goods manufacturer, the German national team is preparing for the international matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Netherlands.
Pavlović clears his throat and says: “Of course that’s a nice sign,” and then quickly adds, as if to apologize: “But that’s more of a minor matter. I’m concentrating on my game.”
Pavlović determines the rhythm of the game
Pavlović giggles at these sentences, he does this often, he is only 20 years old and has not given many interviews in his career. The fact that someone doesn’t try to hide their insecurities can be considered unusual in the big-footed football business. There is a toolbox of phrases that professionals like to use to help you through conversations – but Pavlović, who was born in Munich and has a Serbian father and a German mother, rarely uses it.
In general, a lot stands out about Pavlović. Anyone who sees him play at FC Bayern and also in the national team can hardly believe that he has only just outgrown his teenage years. In Munich he organizes the defensive midfield together with Joshua Kimmich. In contemporary football, this is the king’s position; The structure of the game has moved further and further back over the years, from position ten behind the strikers to position six, directly in front of the defensive line. Here Pavlović distributes the balls at FC Bayern. He determines the rhythm of a game, he accelerates or slows down, shifts the game to the wings or centers it – and Pavlović has to make the decision again and again as to which of the many options is the best, often within seconds.
What Pavlović is still missing: a dose of madness
This is actually a task for experienced players, most recently seen at the European Championships when Toni Kroos, 34, set the pace for the German team. Even before at Real Madrid, one had the impression that Kroos was becoming more classy with every day he got older.
In May, during the European Championship training camp in Thuringia, when the five-time Champions League winner had not yet resigned, national coach Julian Nagelsmann spoke about the post-Kroos era in German football. Kroos can only be replaced through a collective effort, said Nagelsmann, and he sees particularly great talent in two players: Aleksandar Pavlović and Angelo Stiller.
Stiller, 23, a six-man at VfB Stuttgart and one of the best of the last Bundesliga season, is currently in second place in the national coach’s favor. The player of the moment is Pavlović, who replaced the Portuguese Joao Palinha, who was signed for almost 50 million euros at FC Bayern in the summer, as well as Leon Goretzka, who is considered Pavlović’s mentor.
In Munich, Pavlović seems to be a perfect fit for Vincent Kompany’s fearless, attacking football. Pavlović is a confident ball distributor; He is always playable, even under pressure. Pavlović is calm, similar to Kroos – but what sets him apart from the old master: You rarely see Pavlović make a surprising, daring ball. The question now is: Does he not have the madness under his belt or does he just not dare?
Bayern coach Kompany will probably be happy that Pavlović is currently performing so solidly and reliably. He can’t use any more unrest on defense, where the two central defenders Kim and Upamecano are pushed to the limits of their possibilities (and beyond) every week.
The national team, on the other hand, would benefit from esprit and free spirit. The other two six, Pascal Groß and Robert Andrich, are serious workers, but neither of them has an artistic streak. It would take someone to fuel the bold and irresistible play of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala from behind.
Waiting for the first starting eleven appearance
Aleksandar Pavlović has played three international matches so far and has come on as a substitute three times. It is quite possible that the national coach will let him start against Bosnia (Friday, 8:45 p.m., RTL) or the Netherlands (Monday, 8:45 p.m., ZDF). Pavlović might also dare to do something alongside Robert Andrich – Andrich is practiced at cleaning up; He also chases the creative spirits at champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Pavlović says he gets along well with Andrich. As neighbors on the square and outside of it – they both live in the same bungalow in Herzogenaurach.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
