Man City look set to secure the signing of Lazio’s dynamic and highly-rated Serbian left-back, but who, on this mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, is Aleksandar Kolarov?
Born in Beograd, the Serbian international began his career in his homeland with Cukaricki Stankom. In 2004 he transferred to Beograd and soon caught the eye of Europes elite due to his thrusting forward runs and teachnica ability. After only a year and a half – and 38 appearances – Kolarov was off to Italy and his aparrant boy-hood idols of Lazio.
His time at the Stadio Olympico has seen Aleksandar effectively progress into one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe. Making the left-back position his own, he has established himself as a vital and exciting asset for the Biancocelesti. He’s renowned for his forward thrusting style and attacking mindset, often overlapping to add extra guile down the left-wing, whilst possessing pace, great technical ability, versatility and an infamously powerful shot.
No surprise, then, that his first Lazio goal came 40 meters out and rocketed into net – scored against Reggina in 2007. Nonetheless, his most notorious finish actually came in the hostile Derby della Capitale; receiving the ball in defence and run, run, running the length of the pitch before slotting the ball past Roma ‘keeper Doni. Lazio won the game 4-2.
Given his evident attacking prowess, his shirt number was switched from No.3 to No.11 shirt last season (as previously sported by fellow Serb Sinisa Mihajlovic, and thus spawning further comparisons). He may, however, need to discpiline his forward desires slightly to avoid being exposed in the Premier League.
A deal in the region of £17million would see City gainfully strengthening a position undoubtedly requiring such acute attention (remember the long, exhausted and disapproving exhales emitted last season by Hansen et al in regards to Bridge’s poor positioning; sometimes a deep, drawn out breath is all the analysis required). Certainly, it’s clear that Wayne is not first-team standard in relation to the increasingly talented conglomeration of players around him. A dynamic and versatile player, Kolarov could be another astute Mancini signing as the City machine rumbles on…
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Kolarov is a quality left back, far better than Wayne Bridge … As a Lazio fan I am gutted he is leaving.
£16 million to Lazio is a huge amount of money, it will allow them to bring in three quality players.