Arnautovic: A king comes to Belgrade – emotional move to Red Star!

Arnautovic: A king comes to Belgrade – emotional move to Red Star!

Marko Arnautovic has signed a new contract with Serbian football club Red Star Belgrade. The 36-year-old, considered the highest-paid player in the club's history, signed a two-year contract in Belgrade on Monday that will give him a net salary of €2.5 million per season. This was done by LAOLA1 reported. Arnautovic will wear the number 89, commemorating the year he was born, and could make his debut in the second leg of the Champions League second qualifying round against Lincoln Red Imps as early as July 29.

His move to Red Star is not only a sporting decision, but also a deeply emotionally motivated one, as he fulfills a promise to his late mentor Sinisa Mihajlovic. Mihajlovic, who was coach in Bologna in 2021 and died of cancer on December 16, 2022, had great meaning for Arnautovic. The new Red Star player showed his commitment by acting as a pallbearer at Mihajlovic's funeral and has now made good on his promise to move to the club that Mihajlovic supported. This has been detailed by Today explained.

Fans and club react enthusiastically

When Arnautovic arrived in Belgrade, he was welcomed like a king. The club's fans were enthusiastic about his signing and believe he will attract spectators to the stadium. Zvezdan Terzic, the club boss, expressed optimism about Arnautovic's ability to improve the performance of his teammates.

Before his decision to join Red Star, Arnautovic had also rejected an offer from Rapid Vienna, which had offered him a gross salary of over three million euros. He ultimately chose the Serbian champions because he is a fan of the club and his move gives him a deep emotional connection to the club.

Sport psychological aspects in football

If you go beyond the sporting aspect, you can look at the importance of mental strength in football. Sports psychology is becoming increasingly important in football and has become more and more accepted since its first major appearance in professional football under Jürgen Klinsmann in 2006. Christoph Kittler, sports psychologist in the youth performance center of 1. FC Union Berlin, emphasizes the obligation to provide psychological support, especially in the training of young talents. This shows that mental aspects can also support the big name of football like Arnautovic in his career, as on sportpsychologie.berlin is explained.

With Arnautovic, Red Star Belgrade has brought in a player who can make his mark not only on the pitch, but also as an emotionally charged personality. His move is perceived as a new beginning that encompasses both sporting and emotional dimensions and offers promising prospects for the coming season.