Kosta Nedeljkovic’s first pre-season as an Aston Villa player is in full swing.
Despite signing for the club from Red Star Belgrade in January, the 18-year-old has only been part of the squad since the start of July after spending the second half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan in his homeland Serbia.
In between putting in the hard yards on the club’s USA tour, we caught up with Nedeljkovic for his first interview with club media…
Kosta, it’s your first pre-season tour with Aston Villa. How are you finding things so far?
“It’s my first time in the USA. We’re over here for pre-season and it’s hard work and hard training sessions. We are being tested with the games we have over here and we must improve. We have to trust the process. We have a lot of new players and I was the first new player, but we’re training to improve and with every game we will get better.”
How are you settling in with your new teammates?
“For me, it’s a new club and new challenges. I signed a contract in January and I’ve been over to England three times since then. I came over in July and it’s not like I’m a new player – I know the staff and the players, so that was important. Every day my English is getting better and I’m having lessons. I’m getting on very well with my teammates and I’m playing with some of the best players in the world. We have a good team of good guys and there is a good atmosphere after training.”
You were at Red Star Belgrade when Villa made a move for you. Tell us about how things happened from your perspective…
“It was two days before I went to winter pre-season with Red Star in Cyprus. We had training every day except for Saturday and Sunday, which were the days off. On Sunday morning, my agent called me and arranged a meeting with me, my father and my brother. Aston Villa is one of the best clubs in the Premier League and in the world and I’ve watched them for many years since I was a kid. My family were very proud of me and the club has shown trust in me, so I must give 100% to make it go in the best possible way.”
Was it a dream move for you?
“Yes, it was a dream. The Premier League, for me, is the best. There are many leagues in the world but the Premier League is the one everyone knows and watches on TV.”
Has Unai Emery spoken to you about his plans for you and your future?
“We have a plan and it’s very important for me to work with this boss. Unai is one of the best coaches in the world. I’m 18-years-old and at my age to be training and playing games for him is very good – it’s a dream.”
You’re moving to a new country and a new league at a young age. Has it fazed you at all?
“I’m not scared because I know that, yes I’m from Serbia, but I’m coming to a new family. I have good friends here and I’ve only been here for three weeks. I know after three or four months it will be much better for me and my family. People in the club have accepted us like we’re in Serbia. I know that football is about sacrifices and that you must make them. After 10-15 years, you will have a good life but you must make sacrifices every day. You need to work hard on the training ground and play good.”
You’ve had a rapid rise since making your debut for Red Star last year and things have moved quickly for you in your career…
“Two years ago I was playing for Red Star B in the second division and then I moved to the first team one year ago in July. I played six months and then signed a contract with Aston Villa, so it was very quick for me. I played very good in Serbia; we had a very good team. I’ve got Champions League experience, playing four games – two as a starter, two as a sub. This was important for my experience at 18-years-old to be playing in the Champions League. Now I have to give 100% to play here in the Premier League.”
One of those Champions League appearances came against Manchester City. How did you find that?
“I played against Jack Grealish and I played very well. We lost this game 3-2 which was not a bad result as Manchester City are a top club.”
Did that taste of playing against a Premier League team make you even more excited for the move to England?
“Yes, I’m going to be playing against players I’ve watched on the TV for the last ten years, so it’s a big challenge for me. I’m ready to fight against every team and every player.”
Who were your heroes growing up and who did you want to be like?
“My idol is Cristiano Ronaldo because of his mentality. I try to have a mentality like him with the way I train every day and having belief in myself. I’m not the best but I give 100% and will push myself to one day be the best. In the Premier League, Kyle Walker is a top right-back; he’s very strong, he’s very fast. I’m a very offensive player, so I compare myself to Theo Hernandez.”
We have a great group of full-backs in the squad. Are you learning a lot from them?
“There are very good full-backs here, but every day it’s important for me to watch the first touch, crosses and passes. Matty Cash is a very good guy and he’s helped me a lot.”
Now that you’re with the squad, are you looking forward to the day when you’ll be able to run out at Villa Park?
“I’m very excited and I know that Aston Villa is a top club with very good fans. I’m very excited to have my first game at Villa Park and I’m ready for it.”
Do you have any goals and ambitions for the season ahead?
“I will go match-by-match and it’s important that the team plays well to be high in the table. The team is the first priority and I will do what the manager wants me to do. Obviously, I want to score a few goals and create assists, but it’s my first season so we will see.”
We’ll end with a nice fact that you’re the third Serbian to play for Aston Villa after Sasa Curcic and Savo Milošević…
“I know Savo Milošević and that he played for Aston Villa. I know he was popular with the fans, so I will push myself so that the fans will love me too.”
