Vlahovic on career that never was, Juventus idols and Del Piero ‘not my favourite’ | OneFootball

Dusan Vlahovic reveals he almost focused on another sport rather than football as a child, the former Juventus teammate who was his idol, but why Alessandro Del Piero was ‘not my favourite.’

The Serbia international took questions from a group of junior Juventus supporters aged between 6 and 11, where he confessed that this career very nearly didn’t happen because he was distracted by another sport.

“I started playing football when I was 8 years old, but before that I had been playing basketball since I was 5. I preferred to play sport rather than study, whereas my mother wanted me to focus on school. I did both for a while before concentrating on football,” said Vlahovic.

Vlahovic grew up watching stars

COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 07: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Juventus at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on February 07, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

He watched many star names when he was a kid and falling in love with the sport, including some he would end up working alongside at Juventus.

“I had many idols, among them certainly Cristiano Ronaldo.”

However, Vlahovic was less enthusiastic when asked about other legends.

“Del Piero? No, he was not my favourites. I liked to watch Messi, but I never got to see Maradona play. The toughest defender I ever faced was definitely Bremer, he caused me the most problems.”

Vlahovic picks favourite goal

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 17: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between Juventus FC and Cagliari Calcio at Allianz Stadium on December 17, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

When asked to name his favourite goal, the centre-forward chose the decisive strike in the Coppa Italia Final against Atalanta.

“The first one in the Champions League was special too, but with Atalanta we won a trophy, the first for me at Juventus. I felt it an honour and a privilege to make my first appearance in the Juve jersey, as being part of this club is something special and I will never forget those sensations.”

Vlahovic has been through many difficult moments in his career and there continue to be suggestions he will leave Juventus in the summer.

“The best medicine for tough times is to score goals. I don’t feel the pressure before games, I try not to think about it too much, but the closer you get to the match, you can’t help it.”

If he could be leaving Juventus, a likely destination would be the Premier League, so Vlahovic’s comments on why he loves Italy might ring alarm bells for a British future.

“I love everything about Italy, starting with the weather. It is the most beautiful country I’ve been to, obviously excluding my own.”