Aleksandar Mitrovic has returned to full training with his Fulham team-mates in America as Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal consider alternative striking options with time ticking down to the start of their domestic season.
The Serbian striker was angered by Fulham’s £52m valuation, which he felt priced him out of a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League following five years of service to the club. The Whites stood firm, insisting that the 28 year-old would not be sold for lower than their asking price, and Marco Silva acknowledged that the situation was ideal during his first press conference ahead of the Premier League Summer Series in the United States a week ago.
Mitrovic had been placed on an individual fitness programme with Silva insisting that he would select a player who didn’t train with his team-mates. The striker, who has scored 111 goals in 205 games for Fulham, appears to have revised his stance as he is pictured preparing to begin fitness exercises behind new signing Raul Jimenez in pictures released by the club of training on Twitter this afternoon.
Mitrovic’s move to Al Hilal, who submitted an audacious world record bid for Kylian Mbappe last week, appears unlikely as the PIF-backed outfit have failed to meet Fulham’s valuation, submitting only official offers of around £25.5m and £35m earlier in the summer. Reports from Portugal suggest that the Saudi Arabia are looking at attacking alternatives, with new coach Jorge Jesus keen on Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri and Al-Hilal preparing a £38.6m bid.
Be interesting to see Mitro’s reaction. And the fan’s attitude to an idol with feet of clay. Watch this space!
Mitro, hasn’t done himself any favours, on refusing to play, and undone all the good work, he has with the Fulham fans.
A badge kissing (expletive). There are three points of view here. One, Mitro, naturally he would wish to earn as much money as possible. He is employed in an acknowledged short working life business. His career could end in the next match. Two, the club. Why would you dispose of one of your greatest assets cheaply? He is a proven goal scorer in a very difficult business. And three the fans. They are least bothered by any of the above they just want the best and the team to advance as far as possible. I am unable to decide which of the three should take precedence and am more pleased with Marco having the cohones to give the Saudis the bums rush and stay with the greatest team the world has ever seen. Hats off to you Marco a man of quality, of decency and much to be admired.
If this is true and the moves off then this could be the best news of the summer so far. Obviously if Mitro stays it is best for the team but also it will cement the authority of Marco and TK at the club. Stability and credibility at that level would be such good news for the club after recent transfer criticisms of TK. Fingers crossed. COYW
Nice one Zippa
It could also be the worst news of the summer. Anyone who watches our games in full regularly has seen how useless Mitrovic is when he’s unhappy about something. He’s proven time and again that he does not play when in a bad mood. Despite all we’ve had to tolerate over the years with his fitness, inability to come back 100% from injuries, and blatantly preferencing Serbia above us. We might be stubbornly clinging on to an absolute passenger here.
Strange like many I suppose I was preparing for the exist and hoping we could get £ 45/50 Million to help kick start a new generation at Fulham. I now have mixed feelings . I do wonder how much truth was in the “I will never play for Fulham again” statement – this was allegedly what he said to a “family member “ that was then reported to someone who told a reporter. What ever comes out of it indeed Bravo to Marco Silva – he has shown such determination . Holding on to him has been keen and Khan clearly must have reassured him that he Khan has ambition to take this club into Europe . COYW
I have been a Mitro fan since he first came into the Prem with Newcastle. When he went to Fulham, I became a Fulham fan and will remain going forward, with or without him. He has been great for the club and can continue to be if he stays. I believe the club did the right thing placing the 52m valuation on him. I don’t see him as a player to hold a grudge, he has always bled white while at Fulham through relegation twice. I think he will be fine, if he stays and we can hopefully take the next step into European football. We have something special brewing with the commitments of Marco, Jedi, William, and if Mitro stays I think he will fall into that mindset. We need a few more signings to increase our squad depth. Forgive and forget, I am so excited with this potential none transfer news. Let’s go Whites!
Has anyone actually heard these reported mutterings from Mitrovic or is it, as is often the case, unscrupulous journalists making the news rather than reporting it? Or maybe it’s the agent unsettling him like Shylock to get his pound of flesh? Mitrovic looked quite happy mingling with the squad in clips from the USA.
I agree PEZ, how true are these heresay reports? Let’s see what plays out. From our positions that is all we can really do. I am going to give Mitro the benefit of the doubt for now.
This is great news.. hopefully puts an end to the saga. COYW!!!
Chloe. Where did you get this information ?
Just wondering why you didn’t answer or print my legitimate question The pic could have been from anytime
The Saudi transfer window is open until 20th Sept, so I would be surprised if we have heard the last of this. I will always be greatful to Mitro for what he has done for our club, but i would hate to hear him booed at matches by our fans.
If Mitro stays it depends on what mitrovic turns up if selected,as we know when he is in the mood he is a handful if he is in a moody then he is a waste of space.We need players who want to play and not players who stay and think they are doing everyone a favour
Hello Bill. I’m afraid when you haven’t posted here before the spam filter requires verification of your comments. I’ve only seen it now. The story clearly references the fact that this is based on the photographs released by the club on Twitter, but we’ve double-sourced it as is good journalistic practice.
I’m sorry that you’ve felt the need to question the legitimacy of our story both here and on other Fulham forums, but we try to bring accurate Fulham reporting to the fans as regularly as possible – fitting in family commitments and work, as I’ve had to do this afternoon.
This is what football is today and I am disappointed in Fulham fans being so aggressively bitter about something that did not actually materialize.
How quick are fans to forget the fact Mitrovic dedicated a lot of his prime years to Fulham even when sent down to the Championship and never complained, balked, or half-@$$ed his efforts. He was a warrior. For him to be upset at the situation is fair, honestly. He has that right to, whether others like it or not.
We honestly don’t know all the facts (its all hearsay) and whether it was Marco or Mitro that made the decision to stand down from training/playing.
Mitro is still with the club. If we want him to stay, and fans would be insane not to, we need to show him love, not spite, after these events.
Thanks for the reply Dan… Just that nowhere else had printed that info i was asking for the source …..as a lifetime ” when 3000 was a good crowd ” fan i wont doubt you again
Nigel, I saw the same thing, Mitro looked like he was getting along with everyone, sitting next to Team, joking with Marco. I love in the US and I am going to the match tomorrow. I am very interested in first, seeing if he might play, and second just watching him with the rest of the boys.
Nobody needs that much money. Terrible to see one’s idol turn in to such a greedy bastard. Would rather go down without Mitrovic than see him play this season to be honest.
Good news if true
Who is this ‘supposed’ family member anyway.
Not 100% certain but to the best of my knowledge his family are in Serbia…. so The Sun must have gone all the way to Serbia to get the quote.
I’ve been very sceptical of this since seeing a very relaxed conversation between & Marco after the Brentford game. It hardly had the look of someone being ostracised
It’s going to cost more than 50 mil to replace mitro
He is a sulking kid at the moment but our job as fans is to make the kid happy again
As parents we know what to do lol
Everyone get to the hoffenheim friendly and let’s support him
He lost all my respect. I think he should work really hard and show total commitment in order to be considered one of our men again.