Stevanovic sets sights on first team next season
CITY winger Filip Stevanovic has ambitions of making his name at the Etihad, rather than becoming another City Football Group loanee.
The Blues beat off competition to sign the 18-year-old for £6m in January, before he was loaned back to Partizan to finish the season.
One of Europe’s most exciting young talents, Stevanovic has four goals and two assists in 23 appearances this season, with 62 senior outings to his name already.
He will join City at the end of the season, where a decision will be taken regarding the next stage of his career.
But the Serbian under-21 international says he joined City with the aim of playing for the Blues at the Etihad.
“I think I can improve the most there,” he told Goal after being named 32nd on their list of the world’s top 50 wonderkids.
“It’s so fantastic to be part of such a big club as Manchester City. But for now, I want to take it step-by-step to my next goal.
“It’s so exciting [watching them] because I dream to play for a big club like City one day, and I will do everything to make that happen.
“I watch every game and it’s so crazy how good they are. It would be my pleasure to have a boss like Pep Guardiola - I really admire him.”
Stevanovic says he has already achieved one dream by representing boyhood club Partizan.
“It was my dream (to play for Partizan) from when I was young, so I came prepared for everything that comes my way,” he added. “At the beginning it was a little hard, but I adapted so quickly. It was an unbelievable feeling when I made a senior debut for such a big club like Partizan.”