Vidic hoping Milenkovic can proceed to chase his legacy in Premier League

Nemanja Vidic is hoping Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic can go on to develop into a better defender than him.

In December, Milenkovic scored simply two minutes into the 3-2 win over Manchester United – the membership the place Vidic made his title and grew to be adored.

As the 2 sides put together to fulfill once more tonight, with Forest in third place and United sitting in thirteenth, each spoke on the comparisons between themselves.

“It’s pure,” Vidic stated to BBC Sport. “Possibly I set the bar greater for defenders. However the bar I put there may be to be damaged.

“The brand new era from Serbia will have a look at the way in which I performed, however their goal is to do higher than I did in my profession.”

Throughout his time at United, Vidic gained 5 Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a Champions League, and a Membership World Cup. On a person degree, he was twice named Premier League Participant of the 12 months – an honour shared by solely Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry – and featured within the league’s Workforce of the 12 months 4 occasions.

Milenkovic, who has beforehand known as Vidic his childhood “idol,” acknowledged that matching these accomplishments will not be life like, however it’s one thing he desires of nontheless.

He stated: “He set the requirements for defenders in Serbia. He’s our greatest participant ever and I grew up watching the movies of his video games.

“It was his management on the pitch and the way in which he performed. He was prepared to sacrifice for different gamers, to do every little thing to not concede a purpose, to reside for a clear sheet. That is what I took from him.

🗣️ “We have to maintain our toes on the bottom!’’@NFFC’s Nikola Milenkovic spoke to @aarransummers in regards to the rising @ChampionsLeague buzz at Forest, forward of Tuesday’s @premierleague conflict with @ManUtd.#beINPL #NFOMUN #NFFC 🌳 pic.twitter.com/lYAnmW38SU

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) March 31, 2025

“Additionally, his studying of the sport was superb. He was a really clever participant and actually aggressive on the pitch.”

Although Vidic and Milenkovic have by no means met, the United legend has stored a watch on his profession, following his improvement from his early days at Partizan Belgrade, by seven seasons with Fiorentina in Serie A, earlier than his transfer to Forest for £12m final summer season.

Milenkovic has been nominated for the Premier League’s Participant of the Month for March, including to Forest’s spectacular FA Cup semi-final run.

“He is a superb consultant for Serbian soccer,” Vidic added. “He is a superb instance for the way gamers ought to behave and work exhausting to attempt to succeed and keep their careers.

“He likes to defend and has improved lots by way of the tactical facet as a result of he performed in Italy.

“It isn’t honest to match [with me]. He has his personal skills and has profession. He’s 27 and for a defender that’s nonetheless younger.

“It’s good to say ‘after I was younger, Vidic was the goal I wished to purpose for’. However gamers ought to push themselves to go even greater than their idols and the folks they’re being in comparison with.

“He’s 27. I got here to England after I was 24 or 25. He has way more to provide.”