Marko Stamenić | Being at the stadium just whetted my appetite to play for this club
Marko Stamenić has revealed how his first-hand experience of watching Swansea City in action has just whetted his appetite for getting down to work with his new club.
The 23-year-old midfielder joins the Swans from Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee, and will wear the number six shirt after signing an initial four-year contract.
Stamenić was at the Swansea.com Stadium at the weekend to watch Alan Sheehan’s side beat Sheffield United 1-0.
And the mix of the performance and the atmosphere in the stadium left the New Zealand international in no doubt that the move to south Wales is the right one for him.
“I love watching football, so the chance to watch any football game is a good one for me,” he said.
“But to see the way the team played, the philosophy that the team play with is a different type of football that you love to see.
“I am really happy, it was a big win and a good one for the club as a whole.
“We’ve been talking about this move for some time now, and I’ve been told about the plans and the project and I fell in love with it from that first meeting.
“I am just over the moon that the deal is done.”
And Stamenić also revealed how a former Forest teammate only had good things to say to him about Swansea as the move drew near.
“Lewis O’Brien spoke to me,” he said.
“I know he was only here for a short time but it was one that he felt was full of positives. He only spoke highly of the club and the people around it, and I arrive in Swansea with only good feelings about the club.”
Stamenić boasts top-flight experience across Europe having played in Denmark, Serbia and Greece. He has also featured in the Champions League and Europa League, while he has recently helped New Zealand secure a place at next year’s World Cup in the United States.
So, while he may still be relatively young in years, Stamenić has his sights set on making an impact for the Swans as part of a midfield unit where there is no shortage of competition for places.
“There is plenty of competition, and that’s a good thing because competition is what will drive us to be the best versions of ourselves,” he added.
“I think that is really important and I want to try and implement that, I will give my all and die for the sleeve and the club.
“I am stoked to be at this amazing club. I cannot wait to see the fans. I have huge ambitions and goals for myself and the club and I hope we can achieve it together.”