Arnautovic in tears remembering Mihajlovic love for Red Star Belgrade | OneFootball

Former Inter and Bologna striker Marko Arnautovic broke down in tears as he revealed joining Red Star Belgrade was a promise made to ‘brother’ Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Austria international of Serbian descent was a free agent after his contract with Inter was allowed to run down in June.

He opted for a special transfer to Crvena Zvezda and in an emotional press conference he revealed the reasoning behind this choice.

Arnautovic strong bond with Mihajlovic

Red Star Belgrade fans remember Sinisa Mihajlovic

“I had promised to Sinisa that I would come to Red Star Belgrade and now I am here,” said Arnautovic.

“We used to talk about Red Star every day. Since arriving at the stadium and seeing it all, I’ve cried more in the last two days than in my whole life.”

Mihajlovic started his career at Crvena Zvezda and won the European Cup before continuing his experience in Italy, where he settled down as both a player and coach.

The Serbian died in December 2022 following a long battle with leukaemia at the age of 53.

He had worked with Arnautovic as his coach at Bologna and they became great friends.

“I had spoken to his family too about this move, they were very happy for me. He was a brother, a father, he was everything to me.”