The Premier League title winner with Leicester says he’s happy that the ex-Magpies man has finally adapted well at Craven Cottage.
Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri has suggested that Newcastle United didn’t give Aleksandar Mitrovic enough time to develop.
The former Magpies striker has been superb at Craven Cottage despite their poor form in the Premier League, netting seven league goals in 17 appearances.
Mitrovic was at Newcastle between July 2015 – when he joined from Anderlecht for £16.65million – and July this year, moving permanently to Fulham for £18.18million after a half-season loan in which he helped get them promoted from the Championship (Transfermarkt).
The Serbia international famously split opinion among the Toon Army, with some fans thinking Rafa Benitez was right to offload him, while others think he should have been given more time.
Ranieri, formerly of Chelsea and Leicester City, appears to follow the latter school of thought, and speaking ahead of the league meeting between the two sides on Saturday, the Italian suggested that Fulham have done a better job with the striker than Newcastle.
“Aleksandar, in Newcastle, didn’t do a very good job because when a player comes from another country it’s not easy to adapt immediately to English football,” Ranieri told reporters at his pre-match press conference, as quoted by Chronicle Live.
“But in Fulham he’s adapted very, very well. And I hope he can do a very outstanding match. I don’t know if they will give a warm welcome to Aleksandar, but I hope Aleksandar will make a very good match.”
Fulham will need Mitrovic to be firing on all cylinders, given the Cottagers have won just one of their last 14 Premier League matches and are without a clean sheet in 21 league games (BBC Sport).
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