It has been more than six months since Stefan Savic ended his time at Atlético de Madrid. The Montenegrin center-back, who wore the red and white jersey for nine seasons, has broken his silence in an exclusive interview with Relevo, the first since his departure. In it, he talks about his adaptation to Trabzonspor, his exit from Atleti, and what he misses most about the team led by Simeone.
The Difficult Adaptation After Nine Years at Atlético de Madrid
"Good, good. That adaptation period has passed, and now everything is fine," Savic assures about his arrival in Türkiye. However, he acknowledges that it wasn't an easy change: "It's never easy to change clubs and countries after so long. I spent nine years at Atleti, and any change was going to be noticeable."
The defender highlights how challenging it was to change his daily routine after almost a decade with the same coach. "I spent nine years with the same manager, that becomes something normal. Then you arrive somewhere else and start working with other people. Here I talk with a translator because I still don't master Turkish."
His Signing with Trabzonspor and the Offers He Had
The former Atlético de Madrid player reveals that there were options to stay in Spain, but Trabzonspor's insistence was key in his decision: "From day one, they were there. There were other options, but when someone really wants you, you notice it. They offered me three years and were always alert."
Additionally, Savic highlights that the atmosphere of the Turkish club reminded him of Atlético: "I pay a lot of attention to emotions and saw how they live it here, how the club feels it. It reminded me of what I experienced at Atleti."
"I Told Jan Oblak..."
Savic doesn't hide that he misses Atlético de Madrid: "We could talk for an hour about everything I miss." For years, he was part of the team's competitive DNA, and recently, in the classic against Real Madrid, he realized how much he missed that feeling.
"Just that day, I was talking to Oblak, and I told him, 'Look, Jan, it's the first time I'm anxious to watch a game.' I was nervous, and when I played, that never happened to me."
The Talk with Simeone and the Final Decision
Savic explains that his departure wasn't due to his performance but a process of reflection: "There isn't a single reason. I saw that I needed a change." His conversation with Diego Simeone was key. "I always told the manager that when the time came, we would talk about it."
"When you talk to the coach and see that he's not 100% convinced you should stay, and you're not either, that's when you have to make a decision." The Montenegrin holds no grudges and assures that his farewell was direct and sincere: "I'm a guy who says everything to your face. I've always been like that."