In an interview with Mozzart Sport, Vlahovic discussed his feelings about leaving Juventus and joining Besiktas, among other topics. This article is the first part of a two-part interview.

Related reading: [Vlahovic: Thanks to Spalletti for the help, but injuries rendered my efforts useless]

On scoring a hat-trick in his home debut

When I came to Istanbul, I never expected to ignite such high enthusiasm and joy from the fans. High expectations also bring pressure, but I have been used to having to give my all since childhood.

On his feelings upon arriving here

The experience has been fantastic. Whether it's my personal feelings, or the welcome I received at the airport and then at the stadium... I am very satisfied and very happy. As for the city, I haven't had much chance to explore, but from what I've seen, I really like it here. This is a major metropolis, and I hope everything goes smoothly.

On the warm welcome from the fans

I know the fans here are passionate, love football, and have deep affection for the team, but I didn't expect it to be on this scale. They live for football. The team and the players are everything to them, which is truly amazing. My job is to train well, follow the coach's instructions, and give my all on the field.

On the reason for choosing Besiktas

Besides a generous contract, the club showed a strong desire to sign me. They tried to contact me all summer, doing everything they could to get me. This made me feel very good, because I think that's how life generally is; one should go where they are truly wanted. The Besiktas president and sporting director personally visited Belgrade, stayed for seven to ten days, and we had multiple rounds of talks. The head coach (note: Italiano) was also a key factor; I knew him from my time at Fiorentina.

On his ambitions

My ambitions have always been high, always aiming for the biggest goals. Of course, the road ahead won't be easy. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Trabzonspor are all our opponents... I don't want to overlook any of these opponents, but I think these three teams, plus us, are the main contenders for the championship. The process is bound to be difficult, but my goal and ideal are to win the league title with Besiktas. I have followed and watched the Turkish Super Lig; many excellent players have emerged from here in the past, and in recent years, the league's standard has further improved. The four strong teams are exceptionally talented, and even if some matches seem easy, that is definitely not the case. Other clubs also have many talented players, and the Turkish Super Lig is by no means an easy league to deal with.

On the choice of jersey colors

The color of the jersey was not a consideration for me, but I am happy to still wear black and white. Ultimately, I am a professional player, and even if it were a different color, it wouldn't matter; the most important thing is that I feel comfortable.

Many people commented that moving to Turkey was a "step backward" in his career

I completely disregard these comments. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Football is the world's number one sport, and everyone has the right to express their views. Admittedly, from some perspectives, others might have a point, but I won't take it to heart. I have my own path, pursuits, and goals, and for me, what matters most are my inner feelings and judgment. So I respect everyone's opinions, but these remarks won't affect me much, and I won't pay attention to them.

On donating jersey sales revenue to UNICEF

I think this is a meaningful cause, and I have been working with the agency for a year. I am one of its ambassadors, and I am very honored to have this opportunity. This is just a small gesture of gratitude. In my opinion, it's not a big deal; I'm just doing what I believe is right.

On rumors about his contract renewal negotiations with Juventus

Many clubs negotiated with me, which was inevitable because I was a free agent at the time. My contract expired, and various clubs were exploring the possibility of signing me. I communicated with many teams, but for the reasons mentioned above, I ultimately chose Besiktas. The transfer market is constantly changing; today is one situation, and tomorrow it could be completely different, with various variables happening every day. I deliberated carefully, remained patient enough, and ultimately believed I made the best decision for my career at the time. Time will tell, but I am confident in this choice.

On the inside story of leaving Juventus

My contract was originally set to expire on June 30. After the contract expired, I became a free agent. I spent four and a half wonderful years at this club, and I gained a lot from the relationships, the club's size, the fan base, and everything this world-class giant possesses.

What did you gain during your time at Juventus?

It was a great honor and joy to be a part of Juventus, to wear this jersey, to play for the club, to score goals, and to conquer challenges. Here, I once again thank everyone within the club, all the fans, and my teammates. This experience was invaluable. However, there remains a huge regret: I couldn't get more opportunities to compete for honors and win trophies. But I am sure that a club like Juventus will soon return to its peak, as it is ingrained in the club's DNA, has been since its inception, and will continue to be so in the future.

Talking about the difficulties caused by injuries last season

The reason I was on the bench at the start of the season is well known: it was the final year of my contract. In my opinion, that was the only reason I started on the bench. Of course, the team also brought in two new strikers, but I accepted that role because I had already planned to go down that path.

Regarding external pressure: public opinion, media, fans all exert pressure...

I fully understand that fans receive and believe various pieces of information disseminated externally. For the past three years, the media has been constantly speculating about my contract renewal with Juventus, but the club management and I never had a single substantive renewal discussion, and that is the only truth. It wasn't until the end of last season and after this season ended that I had discussions with the board. Our last communication was on June 2nd, and no agreement was reached in that conversation, and since then, I have had no further contact with Juventus. There were rumors that I made various harsh demands, but this is not true. There might have been a lot of criticism about me during that time, but it didn't bother me too much because I knew the truth and what actually happened. The injury only made things worse. After surgery and rehabilitation, I was out for a full four and a half months. Now I still need some time to get back to ideal condition: I did not participate in pre-season preparations, while the team has been training for a month and a half and has played seven or eight games. So I do need time, but I am very patient. I train hard and hope to return to my best level as soon as possible.

For three years, it has been reported that I refused to renew my contract and was unwilling to discuss contract extension with the club. But the truth is, neither side ever engaged in substantive renewal negotiations. There would only be some verbal mentions: "We should talk about your contract," "Perhaps you should renew and sign a new contract," and that was it. There was never a formal sitting-down process to negotiate. I believe this also misled fans to some extent. People browse newspapers, websites, and social media every day, and the same statements are repeatedly disseminated day after day. It is normal for fans to feel dissatisfied, and I fully understand. I did not come forward to clarify before because I felt it was unnecessary, and also out of respect for the club. I always did my best to do my job, giving 100% on the field. What's more, I suffered a serious injury six months before my contract expired, and the injury itself is enough to explain my attitude towards Juventus, regardless of which year of my contract I was in at the time. But those days were indeed very difficult. Even in a friendly match against the U23 youth team, I was booed by the home fans, and that feeling was not good.

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