Red Star's young midfielder, Andrija Maksimovic, has captured the attention of media and fans ahead of the critical Champions League clash between the Serbian team and Barcelona. In his statements, Maksimovic made it clear that facing European giants doesn’t intimidate him and that he’s fully committed to giving his best in front of the home crowd. 

“Anything is possible in front of our fans,” he confidently stated, highlighting the crucial role Red Star supporters will play in the match. According to the young player, his ambition is to showcase his quality on the pitch and compete at the highest level.

Known as one of the brightest talents in the Serbian club, Maksimovic also showed respect for Barcelona’s young sensation, Lamine Yamal. However, far from being overshadowed by the Spanish player’s fame, Maksimovic expressed his determination to stand out on the field. “Lamine is a great player. We met in the European U-17 Championship, also with Cubarsí. I’ll go out there and prove I’m better than Lamine,” he affirmed, adding that he hopes to swap shirts with Yamal after the game as a gesture of respect and camaraderie.

Red Star’s coach, who also spoke at the pre-match press conference, backed Maksimovic’s enthusiasm and shared insights on the team’s approach to the duel. In his remarks, he emphasized the ambition of his young player, who is eager to make a name for himself in European football. “I want everyone to know and remember my name and surname. I’m Andrija Maksimovicć. I’m not Messi, but I have to say he’s my idol,” the midfielder remarked, clarifying that while he doesn’t compare himself to the Argentine star, he takes inspiration from Messi’s style and follows his career closely.

With an ambitious mindset and proven value in intense matches, such as his recent performance against Inter, Maksimovic is prepared to showcase his skills against some of Europe’s top young talents in the game against Barcelona. “In the Inter match, I realized I could handle high-intensity games,” he said, expressing his confidence to tackle even greater challenges. The clash at Red Star promises to be an exciting encounter where Maksimovic aims to establish himself as a key figure and potentially kickstart a promising international career.