Nemanja Vidic hopes to become a greater defender Nikola Milinkovich.
In December, Milinkovic took only two minutes to win 3-2 at Manchester United – the club where Vidic grew up and grew up.
While both sides are preparing to meet again tonight, he is sitting third with Forest and United in 13th, both of whom have talked about comparisons between themselves.
“That’s natural,” Vidic told the BBC Sport. “I may raise my load to the defenders.
“Nawa-i-Nuw is watching my style of play in Serbia, but their goal is to work better than I have done in my career.
Vidic won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the World Cup. At the individual level, he was named the Premier League Player of the Year two times – an honor that was attended by Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Terry Henry, who played four times in the team of the year.
Mininkovich, who had previously called his child a “Betel”, admits that the equality of these achievements may not be realistic, but that is something he dreams of.
“He set the standards for the defenders in Serbia. He is our best player so far and I have grown up and I watch the videos of his games,” he said.
“It was his leadership in the stadium and style of play,” he said. He was willing to sacrifice for other players, to do everything so that he would not admit a goal, to live for a clean goal, that’s what I took.
🗣️ “Our feet should be left on the ground!”@nfc‘No talk with Nicola Milinkovich @aarransumers About growth @cchampionslagueague in Forest, before Tuesday @premierleague with contact with @manutd.#Beinpl #Nfomun #NFFC 🌳 Pic.twitter.com/Lyanmw38SU
– bone sports (@beinsports_en) March 31,
“He’s also a very good reading of the game. He was a very smart player and he was really aggressive on the pitch.
Although Vidic and Milinkovich have never seen each other, United legend United have been watching his career, after growing in early days in Paris Belgrade, through seven seasons with Fiorentina in Serie A before going to Forest last summer for £12m.
Millenkovic was nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month of March.
“He is a great representative for Serbian football,” Vidic added. “He’s a great example of how the players behave and work hard to try to succeed and keep their jobs,” he said.
“He likes to defend and has improved tactically because he has played in Italy,” he said.
“Compared (with me) is not fair (with me,” he said. He has his own ability and has a good profession, he is 27 years old and a defender who is still young.
“Well, ‘When I was young, Vidic was the goal I wanted to target.
“He’s 27 years old, when I was 24 or 25 years old, I came to England, he has many other things to give.