Salgado: Jovic needs time at Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado insisted Luka Jovic is a “great striker,” who needs time to settle in at the La Liga giant.

Jovic is still searching for his first goal for Madrid since arriving from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt in a reported €60million deal.

The 21-year-old Serbia international arrived in the offseason after scored 27 goals in 2018-19. However, he is yet to open his Madrid account and has not found the back of the net since a Euro 2020 qualifier in June.

Salgado, who won four LaLiga titles and two Champions League trophies during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, was asked about Jovic and he told Omnisport: “He’s a young player. If Real Madrid signed him, is due to something. He has been a great player Eintracht Frankfurt, lot of goals, great attacking quality.

“It is known that Real Madrid needed a ‘nine’, a striker. Benzema is a different ‘nine’, a player that collects, combines over finishing. Jovic must still learn, it’s a young player and Real Madrid it’s a team with a lot of pressure. He needs time. He has that time, we know he’s a great striker, you guys know that here in Germany.”

Salgado also urged to “give him some space” and then “little by little” Jovic would become a Real Madrid player.

 That Luka Jović power.
 That @Benzema assist.
 That @viniciusjr goal.
 #RMCity | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/ySCtdwomcb

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) October 11, 2019

Jovic, who was not called up by Serbia during the international break, and La Liga leaders Madrid are back in action away to Mallorca on Saturday.

While Madrid top the table by two points, it has not been a straightforward start to the season for Zinedine Zidane’s men.

Zidane, in his second spell at the helm, has been criticised, especially after the club’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

“There’s always critics at Real Madrid. A club that depends on victories, a gigantic club,” Salgado said. “With a lot of pressure. But I think the last two scores had calm the team.

“Zidane deserves all our respect, he won three Champions Leagues in a row. Something that no one has achieve in history, now arriving into Madrid in a difficult position from last year. The season just started, and they climb into the first positions. We’ve got to let them work. I know Real Madrid, I been there almost 11 years. I know how it works and it’s important that the manager and the players are calm in a moment like these.

“As I said, being leaders brought clam to the team and the team will grow a lot from now on. Zidane deserves the confidence from us, supporters. I think he’s doing a great job.”