Mihailovic excited to join CF Montréal’s sporting project
As the 2021 season gets set to kick off in the coming months, things will certainly look different for midfielder Djordje Mihailovic.
After joining the Chicago Fire’s Academy in 2013 and signing for their first team in 2017, the young American international was acquired by CF Montréal from the Fire in December 2020 and will soon move to Montréal, in February, to prepare for the upcoming season.
“I made my decision in December when I spoke to Thierry,” said Mihailovic. “As soon as it was finalized, it was a big sigh of relief but also a big boost of motivation for me. I had a few weeks to prepare and work out and then it was the start of the national team camp. So, my offseason went by pretty quickly.”
Mihailovic is back in Chicago now, preparing for his official move to Montréal in about two to three weeks’ time. But just a few days ago, he was in Bradenton, Florida, for the first USMNT camp of the new year under head coach Gregg Berhalter.
“This camp in particular, I felt really good mentally,” explained Mihailovic. “I know what the next step in my career is now, and I feel like it’s been a while since I had that peace of mind. In order to play well, things off the field need to be going well. I felt like I gave the best version of myself during this camp.”
Reaching the next level
For Mihailovic, the important part now is to keep training, which is what his sole focus will be until he can hit the field for the first time with his new team. Coming off his best season yet, in which he got two goals and seven assists, Djordje is eager to pick things up where they left off, this time with a fresh slate in front of him.
“I’m excited with what Thierry can get out of me and with the team itself,” said Mihailovic. “Just hearing his words really motivated to reach the next level I want to reach. After spending a long time with one club, like myself in Chicago, sometimes a player can hit a ceiling, and I felt that I was there with Chicago. I have an opportunity to reach a new level and win trophies now with a new club.”
But there will be at least one familiar face for the midfielder; Mason Toye, who was acquired by CF Montréal from Minnesota last season, has taken part in a few U23 camps at the national level with Mihailovic, and the two know each other well already.
“I spoke with him a while before I made the decision just to learn a little more about the city and the culture, and he only had good things to say,” added Mihailovic. “That helped me with that decision as well. But everyone I’ve spoken to always tells me about how beautiful the city is. It just makes me more excited to move there and meet everybody.”
