Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Free Interview Episode - Exclusive: Udinese & Serbia Star Lazar Samardzic (Ep. 329)
1.2k Plays2 years ago
The Italian Football Podcast is delighted to present a sit-down interview Udinese and Serbia star Lazar Samardzic.
Every interview episode as well as every weekly Monday review episode of The Italian Football Podcast are always FREE and available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google podcasts and YouTube.
To listen to EVERY episode of The Italian Football Podcast, go to Patreon.com/TIFP to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Host Welcoming
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello, everybody, and welcome to another interview episode of the Italian Football Podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese, joined, as always, by Nima Tovale.
Introducing Lazar Samatij
00:00:15
Speaker
And on today's show, we are delighted to welcome on one of the most exciting young players in Serie A, a midfielder with a beautiful left foot who I believe has the talent to go very, very far.
00:00:29
Speaker
in the game. He is, of course, Udenez Midfielder, Lazar Samatij. Lazar, thank you so much for coming on to the show. First of all, how are you doing? Thank you first. Yeah, I'm good. Everything is okay. Are you? You both?
00:00:48
Speaker
We're good. Thank you so much, Lazar. This is Nima. Thanks again for joining
Lazar's Early Years at Udinese
00:00:51
Speaker
us. So let's start at the beginning. You joined Udineir from Leipzig in the summer of 2021. How have you enjoyed your first two years in Udineir, Italy and Serie A?
00:01:04
Speaker
I enjoyed it a lot these two years. It was a pleasure to play here because this club is an amazing club. Also, for me, the first year was a little bit not so good. I didn't play so much, but this year I think I played a lot more and I showed my quality, I think.
00:01:30
Speaker
You sure have. This season, you've really pushed on, as you say, five goals, four assists at the age of 21. That's a very good return. Are you happy with how the season has gone so far? It can always be better, but yeah, in the first of the season, I didn't know that I play so much here, and yeah, I'm happy.
00:01:59
Speaker
Yeah, but it can be better. Of course. I mean, in the beginning of the season, as you mentioned, it went well for you, but it also went really well for Rudeneza.
Udinese's Strong Start and European Ambitions
00:02:08
Speaker
You won six of your first eight games and some, you know, many people were talking about maybe Rudeneza could qualify for Europe. Do you think the way that the team is growing, that could be a possibility maybe next season or the season after that?
00:02:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think yes, because we showed our qualities in every game. We need to continue to work. But yes, I think we can do it. Yes, we showed in the beginning of the season what we can do. In every game, we know that we can win this game also when we lose. Yeah, but yeah, we can do it.
00:02:50
Speaker
You're not the only really talented youngster, Udenez. They've got quite a few. I just wanted to ask you about them. First of all, Destiny Udoji, who come onto our show last season, he's moving to Tottenham in the summer. How highly do you rate him and do you think he can be a big success at Tottenham?
On Teammates Destiny Udoji and Simone Pafundi
00:03:13
Speaker
For me, it's the best left-back in Serie A. He can do everything. He will be an important player next year. He's an amazing player.
00:03:28
Speaker
And and Simone Pafundi, who is at the moment, he's doing really, really well in the under 20 World Cup with Italy. I think you played in the under 20 World Cup in the last one, if I'm not mistaken. And he's already made his debut for the Italy senior team, the youngest player in 100 years. I mean, there's a lot of excitement in Italy and also outside of Italy, I can say with Italians about Pafundi. I mean, how how good do you think that he can become?
00:03:56
Speaker
Yeah, he can become a top, top, top player because he has so much quality. He needs to be passionate a little bit, but he has so much quality and also he is an incredible player. He is very young, but he can do it.
00:04:16
Speaker
And if you could take one quality from one of your Udenessa teammates, whether it's with Doji or Pafundi or Beto, who we had on our show earlier in the season, who's incredibly fast, what quality would you take
Preview: Upcoming Game Against Juventus
00:04:28
Speaker
from one of your teammates? I think the...
00:04:36
Speaker
How fast is Beto is incredible. I think this one, I take it. You take Beto's speed. Okay. The last game of the season with Udenez, you're playing against Juventus at home. And you'll be playing against two of your Serbia teammates, Vlawovic and Kostic. Are you confident about beating them? And have you spoken to them about the game? No, we didn't forget. But of course, we can beat them.
00:05:06
Speaker
Yeah, we will see. It will be a nice game here at home. Who has the best left foot out of the three of you? Of Mi Kostić and... Love it, yeah. Oh, difficult to say, but... Yeah, we will see, I think.
00:05:28
Speaker
Well, speaking about Juventus, before you joined Leipzig, you were heavily linked with a move to Juventus.
Transfer Interests and Past Experiences
00:05:35
Speaker
Can you tell us how close were you to joining them? And was there also interest from Barcelona?
00:05:42
Speaker
Yeah, it was interest from both, but it wasn't so close. We spoke a little bit, but yeah, it wasn't so close. So yeah, interest was there, but not more.
00:06:00
Speaker
So I want to talk a little bit about your background and the journey that you made and how you got to where you are now. And when you joined Leipzig as a teenager, you were regarded as one of the most exciting teenagers in world football. But you didn't play too much there. Do you think that move to Leipzig came a little bit too early? Or why do you think it didn't exactly go as planned? No, for me, it was a good step.
00:06:29
Speaker
I know I didn't play so much but a year there to train with these players I think also this year helped me a lot to improve and it was a good step for me.
00:06:45
Speaker
That's a really important point you make there about, you know, sometimes maybe not playing, but just training with with great players. You know, and one of them, I mean, you've played, you know, you've played in Italy since 19. And what would you say are the differences between the German football system and the Italian football system? For example, the way Germany and Italy develop youngsters, the way they coach the philosophy, the tactics, how would you compare? And is there anything you prefer about each system?
00:07:16
Speaker
I think it's not a big difference. For me, it's just that in Italy, the game is more tactically. And in Germany, it goes more up and down, so more speed, I think. Yeah, just this for me. Yeah, I prefer here to play. That's why I move here to the Serie A. And because the game is more tactically,
00:07:42
Speaker
to improve my brain in every game and to see where you can move, where I can move in the game because it's not so much space. But yeah, I like both leagues. Yeah, so do we. And you played with some amazing players at Lightseeker. One of them is Christopher Nkunku, who is moving to Chelsea this summer. How special of a player is Nkunku and what can Chelsea expect from him?
Football Influences: Messi and De Bruyne
00:08:13
Speaker
Hi, Christopher and Kunku is a really, really top class player. He has everything. And I think HSE did a good transfer there. Yeah, yeah, certainly. And who was your, when you were a kid growing up, who was your favorite team as a kid? FC Barcelona was always my favorite team because of, yeah,
00:08:41
Speaker
And why did you start supporting Barca? Yeah, because of Messi, he was my favourite player and yeah, I looked every game, I watched every game and yeah. Would you say that he's the player that you, you know, he was your hero and your idol that you modelled your game on? Like when you say, I want to be like him, I want to take that from him. Would you say it's Messi or is there any others that you would take as well?
00:09:11
Speaker
I think everybody wants to be like Messi, but I think he's not a Newman. He is unbelievable. But yeah, of course I looked up to him. But I can say I watch a lot from Kevin de Bruyne. I like how we play. Yeah.
00:09:34
Speaker
I looked also to him up. Let's look a little bit in your future or to the future.
Aspirations for Champions League
00:09:40
Speaker
What are your ambitions? I mean, do you want to play? Of course, you want to play in the Champions League, I'm sure. Yeah, of course. I think everybody wants to play Champions League. Yes, it's this. But also, I want to prove me in every part of my body. I think it's important when I do that, then I can
00:10:05
Speaker
go more up. I think it needs a lot of work and step by step it will be all good. Well speaking about that step by step, today in your opinion what are your three best qualities as a player and what areas of your game do you think that you can improve? I think my three bests are
00:10:33
Speaker
their creativeness, my left foot, my shot, my pass. Yeah, I think this. And what can you improve? Like, what areas of your game do you think you can improve? The defending part. As with also this is important. I need to do it better. Yeah, just
00:11:01
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, your left foot is amazing. One of the best left foots in the game, no doubt. National team now. So you recently made your debut for Serbia. How did it feel to make your debut for Serbia?
Choosing Serbia Over Germany
00:11:18
Speaker
And why did you choose to play for Serbia over Germany, which is Germany is the country where you were born, and it's where you played
00:11:26
Speaker
for the youth national teams. I remember just recently watching you play against Italy under 21s and destroying them, actually, in that game. So why did you choose Serbia? That was not an easy move, but I spoke with a lot of persons, my family, my friends, and I decided to move to Serbia because my name is Serbian, my parents are Serbian.
00:11:54
Speaker
Yeah, that's all. And the game where I play my debut was crazy. I felt different. It was really pleasure to play there. And also my family was, they all crying on the stands. So also them was a crazy game. What's your favorite Serbian team? Do you support a team in Serbia?
00:12:22
Speaker
Yeah. Red Star Belgrade. Amazing. One of my best friends is Serbian. His name is Peter. And he's a massive Red Star Belgrade fan. He was since they won in 1991. He went to watch them and everything. And that brings me on nicely to Serbia's manager, Dragan Stojkovic, because
00:12:46
Speaker
When I was a youngster, I played a bit of football. I played in some professional and I was in a youth team of a professional team as well. Duragan Stojkovic, when I was a kid, was one of my favorite players. I remember watching him in Italia 90, the World Cup, and the game against Spain. I don't know if you've seen it. He scored two amazing goals in the second round.
Serbia's Manager: Dragan Stojkovic
00:13:09
Speaker
Incredible goal. He was an amazing player. And of course, he played for Red Star.
00:13:13
Speaker
Now he's the manager of Serbia. So what is it like working with such a legend of Serbian football? And, you know, what has he taught you? What have you learned from him? Has he taught you any of his skills? Because he was such a skillful player. I need to say also from my father is Darren Stokovic, his idol. So that's why he's crying in the stands. But yeah, he's an unbelievable player. He's an unbelievable coach, an unbelievable human.
00:13:43
Speaker
And yeah, he's a great person. As coach, he knows everybody about football. But yeah, he tells me just to play my game and to have fun. Yeah, I think he'd be good for you as well, because he was a number 10. He was good, amazing at free kicks, creative. I was just going to ask if he's giving you any tips about free kicks.
00:14:12
Speaker
And not now, but maybe the next time. Away from football, what other hobbies do you have?
Off-Pitch Interests and Hobbies
00:14:25
Speaker
I play a lot of PlayStation, FIFA, it's also football, but yeah, this one. I'm also table tennis, billiard, I like these small games.
00:14:37
Speaker
All games, yeah, all competitive games. And what Netflix or TV shows are you currently watching? I didn't watch so much, but I can say that I watched, what was the name? Wait, wait, wait. Prison Break, Prison Break. Oh, yeah, yeah. Brilliant. Yeah, that's great. Yeah.
00:15:04
Speaker
Yeah, this was the favourite Netflix series. Who's your favourite character from Prison Break? The best character? I forgot the name so I'll wait.
00:15:17
Speaker
His brother, what was his name? Yeah, I can't remember his name, but I know who you mean. Tough guy, yeah.
Dream Party Guests
00:15:25
Speaker
And finally, if you could pick five people dead or alive to come to your house for a party, you're having a party, you want to invite whoever you want, who would you invite to your party? Oh, I would invite my girlfriend, my brothers and my best friends.
00:15:43
Speaker
Okay, no messy, no messy to your party. Yeah, if I can take six, then I... Right, just before we let you go, we play a rapid fire game with all our guests. And basically, I give you two or three options. And you give us which one you prefer, you can explain if you want, and you don't need to if you don't want to, okay? Okay.
00:16:12
Speaker
First one, fairly simple. I think everyone in the world has been asked this question who follows football. I think I know the answer already, but I'll ask it anyway.
Quick-Fire Round and Fun Questions
00:16:21
Speaker
Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? Lionel Messi. I knew you were going to say that. Diego Maradona or Pele? Diego Maradona. Kylian Mbappe or Erling Holland?
00:16:42
Speaker
Ali Haaland. Who has the best left foot in the world right now? Lionel Messi after me. Love that. And who is the best central defender in the Serie A right now? I need to say my good friend, Jacob Biol.
00:17:09
Speaker
But I like the suit Korean guy. Kim and Jay. Who will win the Champions League final? Manchester City or Inter? I play in the Italian league but I think Man City will do it. They play amazing football. They do.
00:17:37
Speaker
And finally, the most controversial question, pineapple on pizza, food heaven or food hell. Guy.
00:17:52
Speaker
Now it's impossible to like that. Good, good, good answer. Good answer.
Closing Remarks and Farewell
00:17:58
Speaker
Lazar, thank you so much for coming on the show. We wish you all the best for the future because we think you're going right to the top. And you're welcome and good luck. And everyone else, thank you for listening. We'll be back with a soon with another episode. Until next time, take care of each other and yourselves. Ciao.