Zoran Tosic (Serbian Cyrillic: Зоран Тошић, born 28 April 1987) is a Serbian football player, who is currently playing as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League side Manchester United.
Contents
|
Club career
Early career
Born in Zrenjanin, SFR Yugoslavia, Tosic began his football career with Proleter Zrenjanin, before joining Budućnost Banatski Dvor midway through the 2005–06 season. Those two teams later joined to form Banat Zrenjanin, now playing in the Serbian Superliga. In 25 appearances for Banat, Tosic scored two goals, and in doing so helped his team avoid relegation.
Tosic 's performances both on the domestic scene with Banat and on the international scene with Serbia earned him glances from many clubs across Europe.[2] On 6 August 2007, Tosic signed a four year professional contract with Partizan.
Manchester United
On 22 November 2008, the Daily Mail claimed that a deal had been agreed with his club for the midfielder to join Manchester United in the January 2009 transfer window.[3] The deal was also subject to a successful work permit application as the player had not played the required 75% of his country's matches in the last year. On 28 November, there were reports that Tosic had been granted a work permit, with the transfer expected to go through at the start of the transfer window.[4][5][6] Despite claims that negotiations had stalled over Tosic 's personal terms, the transfer was finalised on 2 January 2009, with both Tošić and his Partizan team-mate Adem Ljajić joining United. Tošić will wear the number 14 shirt.[7]
Tošić received his first taste of first team football on 20 January 2009, when he was named on the bench for United's League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Derby County.[8] He made his debut in an FA Cup Fourth Round match against Tottenham Hotspur on 24 January 2009, when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute for Cristiano Ronaldo.[9] Tosic 's league debut came three days later, on 27 January 2009, when he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for Dimitar Berbatov in United's 5–0 win over West Bromwich Albion.[10]
International career
On the international scene, Tosic made his debut for the Serbia national under-21 football team on 23 March 2007, against Belgium. Four days later, against Portugal, he scored his first international goal. He also took part in Serbia's 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship campaign, in which they reached the final before losing out to the Netherlands.
On 31 August 2007, Tošić received his first call-up to the Serbia squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland and Portugal by national team manager Javier Clemente, and made his international debut against Finland.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other[11] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Budućnost BD | 2005–06 | 7 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 7 | 0 | – | 7 | 0 | ||||||||
| Banat Zrenjanin | 2006–07 | 25 | 2 | – | 25 | 2 | |||||||
| Total | 25 | 2 | – | 25 | 2 | ||||||||
| Partizan | 2007–08 | 32 | 8 | 4 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 36 | 9 | |||
| 2008–09 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | 25 | 9 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 14 | 5 | 2 | – | 7 | 2 | 61 | 18 | ||||
| Manchester United | 2008–09 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Career total | 82 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 20 | |
Statistics accurate as of match played 27 January 2009[1][12]
Zoran Tosic at his unveiling as a Manchester United player. The Serbian could make his debut against Derby. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images
Manchester United's new signing Zoran Tosic could make his debut in tomorrow night's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Derby County.
Tosic was unveiled last week following his £8m move from Partizan Belgrade and the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, initially suggested it would be the end of February before the 21-year-old was ready to meet the physical demands of playing in England.
But Ferguson appears to have had a change of heart and is considering naming the winger, who is a regular for the Serbian national side, in his squad to face the Rams, who hold a one-goal advantage from the first leg.
Team (from): Kuszczak, Foster, Amos, Rafael, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Chester, O'Shea, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Possebon, Anderson, Giggs, Park, Tosic, Tevez, Welbeck, Macheda.
Man Utd complete signings of Serbian starlets
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Serbian winger Zoran Tosic can make an impact at Manchester United this season after wrapping up a double deal for the 21-year-old and his Partizan Belgrade team-mate Adem Ljajic on Friday.
United revealed late last year that they had reached agreement with Partizan to sign the duo in a transfer thought to be worth around 17 million pounds (17.6 million euros) and the Premier League champions have now concluded contract negotiations with both players.
Tosic, capped 12 times by Serbia, will link up with United immediately while 17-year-old striker Ljajic will spend the rest of the season on loan at Partizan.
But although Tosic will be ineligible for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at Southampton, United manager Ferguson is confident that the left winger will quickly challenge for a place in his starting line-up at Old Trafford.
Ferguson said: “We have been watching Tosic for over a year and in that time, he has become a regular in the Serbia national team.
“He’s a winger and we like wide players here at Manchester United, so we are very hopeful that he will do well for us.
“He hasn’t played since December 10, however, so he will need some time to adjust to the speed of the game over here and get used to the training.
“But once he gets himself accustomed to the pace, then I am sure he will play a part for us this season. Ljajic is another good player with real quality and he will come over to Manchester in time for next season.
“That is it for Manchester United in this transfer window, though. We are done now with our business for this season.”
Ferguson is likely to make a series of changes for the trip to the south coast for Sunday’s repeat of the 1976 FA Cup Final against Championship strugglers Southampton.
Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be rested, while Carlos Tevez is not due back from attending family business in Argentina until Sunday evening.
Despite reports suggesting that Tevez is close to signing a permanent deal at Old Trafford, Ferguson insists that the club are no closer to thrashing out an agreement with the player’s representatives, who continue to own the Argentinian.
Ferguson said: “I’m not going on about the Tevez contract because it is never-ending. Chief executive David Gill is dealing with it, but there is nothing to report.”
The FA Cup clash starts a busy January for United, who also have a Premier League clash at home to Chelsea on Jan 11 in-between a two-legged League Cup semi-final against Championship club Derby County.
And England defender Rio Ferdinand, who will miss the Southampton game, is facing a battle to fit for the Chelsea clash after being laid low with a back injury since pulling up in the pre-match warm-up at Stoke on December 26.
Ferguson said: “Rio is still not training because we need to give his back the time to settle. It has happened a few times now, but he is tall, with a long back, so it can happen.
“He definitely won’t be involved against Southampton or Derby, but we hope he will be back for the big one against Chelsea.”
Tosic signing unlikely in January
Manchester United are unlikely to sign new players in the January transfer window although talks continue with Partizan Belgrade duo Zoran Tosic and Adam Ljajic, according to the club.
Highly-rated Serbian winger Tosic has been cleared to join United after being granted a work permit by British authorities, but negotiations have stalled over personal terms.
Chief executive David Gill said talks were ongoing with both Tosic, 21, and midfielder Ljajic, 19.
“We’re still in negotiations with both,” Gill said in Japan where Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils are playing in the Club World Cup.
“We’ve agreed club terms, now we’re working on the player terms. They may or may not happen.
“Apart from those, I don’t think there will be a lot of activity from us in January.
“Perhaps the odd loan signing going out if Alex decides he wants to give some of the younger players first team experience elsewhere. But I don’t expect there to be much else.”
Agent Zoran Pavlovic told Belgrade media this week that United have yet to offer an acceptable salary for Tosic, who can play on either flank and has been capped 12 times by his country.
No deal agreed yet - Tosic
Serbia winger Zoran Tosic has failed to agree on a contract with Manchester United, but said he remains optimistic he will join the club in January.
The 21-year-old Partizan Belgrade player visited Old Trafford last week with his manager, but said Sunday that United’s offer “does not coincide with” his demands.
“We agreed to stay in touch and I believe that everything will be fine in the end,” he said.
Tosic’s manager Zoran Pavlovic said the player was unhappy with the salary he is being offered, and told Belgrade daily Blic that the winger might consider finding another club.
No details of the transfer fee has been given for Tosic, but local media said it was around €3.5 million ($4.5 million.)
Tosic was granted a British work permit last month, after United manager Alex Ferguson made a personal plea at a hearing in Sheffield.
Tosic has made 12 international appearances, including at the Beijing Olympics, and can play on either flank.
Serbs to seal United deals
Manchester United look set to seal a deal for Serbian starlet Adem Ljajic after he travelled to England alongside Zoran Tosic.
Left winger Tosic has flown to Manchester to undergo a medical ahead of his proposed move to Old Trafford in January.
United have already agreed terms with Partizan Belgrade for Tosic and have successfully appealed to get him a work permit, and his move will be rubber-stamped once the transfer window opens next month.
Tosic, 20, flew to England on Wednesday evening after he played his final game for Partizan as they played out a goalless draw with Vojvodina.
“I’m going to Manchester to do a medical exam, but I will return in three days,” said Tosic.
“I hope everything will be okay, but I must confess that it’s hard to leave my club Partizan.
“Of course, there is a big feeling of pride, I’m off to sign for the biggest club in the world, which is my favourite from my early years.
“My goal is to continue to progress as a footballer and I want to show Manchester United that my transfer wasn’t a bad thing.”
Ljajic deal
But Tosic was not alone on the flight as his Partizan team-mate Ljajic accompanied him from Belgrade.
United have held a long-term interest in Ljajic and it has now been revealed that he has joined Tosic in Manchester.
It is reported in Serbia that Ljajic, who enjoyed a trial at Old Trafford earlier this year, will also have a medical with a view to signing for United.
Ljajic, rated as one of the best young players in Europe, will not be on the move immediately as United are ready to let him stay at Partizan for at least six months but possibly for as long as 18 months.
“I was in Manchester once as a guest,” said Ljajic.
“I had a chance to look at how things are going on in a big club and now I will have another look.
“I’m staying in Partizan at least until the end of the season and then we will see what happens.”
Partizan deny United deal
Partizan Belgrade have insisted they have not had any contact with Manchester United over Zoran Tosic or Adem Ljajic.
United are believed to be looking at both players with reports suggesting they have already agreed terms for Tosic which could also see Ljajic moving to Manchester.
Tosic is a current Serbian international and reports in England have claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson will be part of a United delegation that will attend a work-permit hearing this week over the left-winger.
The 21-year-old does not meet current work-permit criteria to play in the Premier League but, given he is valued at £8million, reports suggest United are trying to broker a permit for him.
However, Partizan sports director Ivan Tomic has stated that United have not signed either player, amid claims the European champions will try and strike a double deal.
United’s interest in Ljajic - another attacking midfielder - heralds from the fact he was on trial at Old Trafford earlier this season.
The 17-year-old is understood to have impressed, which has led to constant speculation that a move to United was in the pipeline.
“It is not true that Tosic and Ljajic have already signed for Manchester United,” Tomic said.
“It is simple, there has been no direct contact or official offer coming from England.
“Of course, it would be nice if they want some of our players, but it’s not true.”
Tosic has also continued to insist he knows nothing about a deal.
“I have nothing new to add on that subject, as I contacted my managers and they told me to keep my focus on playing and to stick to our mutual agreement which is that they will not inform me about anything until things move on to a much clearer situation,” Tosic told Vecernje Novosti.
