Big expectations for 19-year-old Milenković

On first view of Nikola Milenković, you'd be forgiven for thinking he grinds his teeth on bones and that every step he takes measures on the Richter Scale. He's 6'5, so yeah, he's fairly large. Aside form his gargantuan frame, Milenković is actually a footballer, and a very good one at that. The Serb joined in the summer from Partizan Belgrade in a typical Corvino move which was inevitably backed by thorough scouting and consideration. A fairly small fee of around €5.1 million was enough to secure the 19 year old, and its fair to say Fiorentina are expecting big things from him.

Despite having all the hallmarks of your typical Fiorentina Balkan Bargain transfer, Milenković isn't a player who slipped under the radar of the rest of Europe's clubs. Given his sheer size and frame at the age of 19, he has the basic qualities to be a complete behemoth at the heart of La Viola's defence.

Mileković was born in the former Yugoslavia, and spent the majority of his previous playing years at Partizan Belgrade, including a loan at Teleoptik. On his last match for Partizan he scored a winning header against Red Star Belgrade to clinch the Partizan double, which means there probably wasn't a better time for him to make the switch to Florence.

On to talking about what Milenković will actually bring to the team. Presumably, Stefano Pioli's chosen two consist of both Davide Astori and Vitor Hugo. The two in question are more experienced and are looking as though they complement each other well, however that's not to wholly exclude Milenković. His sheer size is a glaring and obvious option from set pieces, and by playing and learning alongside Astori it is fair to suggest he should develop in leaps and bounds as a more complete defender. But lets not forget, Milenković had already earned a cap for Serbia in 2016, so he isn't as raw as you may initially think.

Nikola Milenković gives Pioli a genuine and important option this term. With the defensive options streamlined, there is a good chance Milenković will see healthy amounts of game time. But for now, watch this space, observing Milenković's development could be one of the most fascinating aspects of the season.