Vlahovic discussed his feelings about leaving Juventus and joining Beşiktaş, among other topics, in an interview with Mozzart Sport. This is the second and final part of the interview.

Related reading: [Vlahovic: The media said I made harsh demands for Juventus renewal, but that's not true]

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've been accustomed to giving my all since childhood.

On his feelings upon arriving in Istanbul

The experience was fantastic. Whether it was my personal feeling or the welcome I received at the airport and later at the stadium... I am very satisfied and very happy. As for the city, I haven't had much chance to look around yet, but from what I've seen, I really like it here. This is a significant metropolis, and I hope everything develops smoothly.

On the warm welcome from fans

I knew the fans here are passionate, love football, and are deeply devoted to the team, but I didn't expect it to be on this scale. They live for football. The team and 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 why he chose Beşiktaş

Besides a generous contract, the club showed a strong desire to sign me. They tried to contact me all summer and did everything they could to get me. This really appealed to me because I feel that's how life generally is; one should go where they are truly wanted. The Beşiktaş 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 already 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 won't be easy. Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Trabzonspor are all our rivals... 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 tough, but my goal and dream are to win the league title with Beşiktaş. I follow and watch the Turkish Super Lig; many excellent players have emerged here in the past, and in recent years, the league's standard has improved even further. The four strong teams are outstanding, and even if some matches seem easy, that's definitely not the case. Other clubs also have many talented players; the Turkish Super Lig is by no means an easy league to handle.

On the choice of jersey colors

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

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

I completely ignore those comments. Everyone can have their own opinion. Football is the number one sport in the world, and everyone has the right to express their views. It's true that from some perspectives, people might have a point, but I don't take it to heart. I have my own path, pursuits, and goals, and for me, what matters most are my inner feelings and judgments. So, I respect everyone's opinions, but these comments won't affect me much; I won't pay attention to them.

On donating jersey sales revenue to UNICEF

I think it's a meaningful thing, and I've been working with the organization for a year. I am one of its ambassadors, and I feel 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.

Regarding 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 spoke with many teams, but for the reasons mentioned earlier, I ultimately chose Beşiktaş. The transfer market changes rapidly; today it's one situation, tomorrow it can be completely different, with various variables occurring every day. I deliberated carefully, remained patient enough, and ultimately believed I made the best decision for my career at the moment. Time will tell, but I firmly believe this choice was correct.

On the inside story of leaving Juventus

My contract was originally set to expire on June 30th. 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 represent the club, to conquer and score goals. I would like to thank everyone within the club, all the fans, and my teammates once again. This experience was invaluable. However, there is also a huge regret: I couldn't get more opportunities to challenge for honors and win trophies. But I am confident that a club like Juventus will soon return to its peak, as it is ingrained in the club's DNA, has been since its founding, and will continue to be so in the future.

Discussing the difficulties caused by injuries last season

The reasons why I was on the bench at the start of the season are well-known: it was the last year of my contract. In my opinion, this was the only reason I started on the bench. Of course, the team also brought in two new forwards, but I accepted this role because I had already prepared myself for this path.

On external pressure: public opinion, media, and fans all exerting pressure...

I completely understand that fans receive and believe various information circulated externally. For the past three years, the media constantly hyped my contract renewal with Juventus, but I never had a single substantive renewal discussion with the club management; that is the only truth. It was only at the end of last season and after this season that I had conversations with the board. Our last communication was on June 2nd, and no agreement was reached in that discussion. Since then, I have had no further contact with Juventus. There were rumors that I made various harsh demands, but this is not true. At that time, there might have been a lot of criticism of me, but it didn't bother me much because I knew the truth and what actually happened. Injuries compounded the problem. After surgery and rehabilitation, I was sidelined for four and a half months. Now I still need some time to get back to my ideal state: I didn't participate in pre-season training, while the team has been training for a month and a half and has played seven or eight matches. 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, there were reports that I refused to renew my contract and was unwilling to discuss contract extension with the club. But the truth is, there were never any substantive renewal negotiations between the two parties. 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 sit-down negotiation process. I believe this, to some extent, also misled the fans. People browse newspapers, websites, and social platforms every day, and the same narrative is repeatedly spread day after day. It's normal for fans to feel dissatisfied, and I completely understand. I didn't 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 and gave 100% on the field. Moreover, 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 what year of my contract I was in. But those days were truly difficult. Even a friendly match against the U23 youth team was met with boos from the home fans, and that feeling was not pleasant.

On sustaining an injury during an upward trajectory

Yes, the injury happened precisely when my form was improving. I had just regained playing opportunities, and then Spalletti took over. I want to take this opportunity to thank him for everything he did for me last year and for wanting me to stay at Juventus. I can't say that competition for a striker spot was my motivation; I just did my job. As a professional player, whether I'm the first, second, or third striker, it doesn't affect my attitude. I train with passion every day, fighting to be the best. At the time, various objective conditions meant I wasn't the first-choice striker, but I still gave my all. I was rewarded with playing opportunities, but the injury shattered everything, and my entire season was lost.

Is a return to Juventus possible in the future?

Anything is possible in the world of football. In the past, due to youth, lack of experience, and thoughtlessness, I said some inappropriate things. Sometimes people don't realize the weight of their words. So, nothing is absolute. In football, as in life, anything can happen, so I won't rule out any possibility.

Further discussion on leaving Juventus

I left with a good mindset. The club gave me a lot, and I always tried my best to give back. We are all professional players; this is our job. If I hadn't met the team's demands, I wouldn't have been able to face myself with a clear conscience. I am sincerely grateful to Juventus; it is a massive club, a world-class giant, and Italy's number one club. It was a supreme honor to be a part of it. But I am extremely saddened that we couldn't reach the level of competing for major honors and winning trophies. After all, winning titles is Juventus's daily pursuit; the club has won the Serie A multiple times, which is an unshakeable historical record. So I understand the fans' feelings, and I truly regret this.

On Italiano

I had a conversation with him. As soon as he arrived at Beşiktaş, we got in touch; he called me to talk. We worked very well together during those six months in Fiorentina, and we've kept in touch ever since. He called me to tell me that the club had serious team-building plans and great ambitions, which was around June. After that, he communicated with the club management and expressed his desire to sign me, and I also wanted to work with him again because he knows me very well. I know his expectations of me, I am familiar with the playing style he advocates, and under him, his strikers always score goals.

Farewell to Italian football

Yes, I've been in Italy for about eight or nine years. I signed with Fiorentina before I was an adult, and officially moved to Italy at 18. That's a long time; you get used to the local life, people, and daily routines. It's inevitable to feel sad about leaving, but this is our profession, and that's how football is. Life must move forward; you have to live in the present and look to the future.

On Serbia national team goals

Realistically, our goal is to contend for third place in the group. We shouldn't fear any opponent and must not back down from anyone, but the reality is that our group includes the Netherlands and Germany, and matches against them are bound to be extremely difficult. The Greek national team is also strong and well-organized. We need to seize the opportunity to aim for third place; that's the current objective situation. Our ideals are high, but we must recognize reality. We need to fully concentrate on the match against Greece, and against the Netherlands and Germany, we must fight with all our might to achieve the best possible results.

Regarding missing national team matches in June

I don't know about other players' situations. I have been in communication with the current head coach ever since he took office. We also communicated during my injury and recovery period. After I returned, we mutually agreed that, given I was recovering from a major injury, it wasn't appropriate for me to join the national team at that time. It's true that I played four matches for Juventus, but my physical condition was far from 100%.

On the World Cup and Italy's failure to qualify

I saw the relevant reports. It's really regrettable. I feel that Italian fans find it very difficult to accept this outcome. Italy has won the World Cup four times, has a top-tier league, and Serie A brings together a host of excellent players, so such an outcome must be hard for them to come to terms with.

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