New Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski is a bargain signing at £535,000 who can net 20 goals in his debut season, insists his former manager.
Giovanni Costantino managed Miovski at MTK Budapest and revealed the Hungarian club rejected an offer of €1.2 million (£1.03m) from Rapid Vienna for the striker last summer.
It is understood Czech Republic club Slavia Prague were keen on signing Miovski in January, but were quoted a price of between €1.5m to €2m (£1.28m to £1.71m).
North Macedonian international Miovski is Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin’s most expensive signing of an extensive summer rebuild which has so far cost almost £1m in transfer fees.
Former boss Costantino insists the 23-year-old will be worth every penny – and more.
Costantino is confident Miovski can progress to play in the English top flight, and bag Aberdeen a substantial profit after hitting the goal trail in Scotland.
He insists Miovski, who signed a four-year deal with the Dons, is a ‘complete striker’ who has an eye for goal, great technical skill and is also physically powerful.
Costantino also managed Aberdeen signing Ylber Ramadani at MTK Budapest.
He says defensive midfielder Ramadani, 26, is a leader with ‘Scottish-style’ fighting spirit, who will be embraced by Aberdeen supporters.
Costantino said: “Bojan is a great find for Aberdeen and they can sell him for more in the future.
“For Aberdeen to get him for €625,000 (£535,000) is a very, very good buy.
“MTK rejected an offer of €1.2 million in the past for him from Rapid Vienna.
“There was also an offer in January but they rejected it because they wanted to save the club from being relegated.
“Bojan is a player who can go to the Premier League or Championship in England
“He just needs to get the confidence of the people around him.
“That is very important for Bojan.”
‘Complete striker’ can score 20 goals
Aberdeen beat off competition from clubs in Belgium, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland and Poland to sign Miovski.
He met up with the Dons at their Spanish training camp last week where he successfully underwent his medical to complete the transfer.
Miovski trained with Aberdeen at the La Finca resort in Alicante, but did not travel back to Scotland with the squad.
That is because the striker is still waiting for his Visa to be processed.
When the striker does arrive in the Granite City, following the granting of a Visa, Costantino, 37, expects him to consistently deliver goals.
He said: “Bojan is a complete striker.
“He is very good at moving into space and possesses great technical skill.
“Bojan is also good outside the box and when breaking into the penalty area.
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A first training session for Bojan with his new teammates. ✔️ pic.twitter.com/XGV85dJC2i
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) June 29, 2022
“We had a bet last season that if he scored 20 goals for MTK I would buy him dinner.
“When I was there he scored many goals and was on course to score 20 by the end of the season, very easily.
“Then the club changed coach though and the new coach played him as a winger.
“Bojan is not a winger.
“If he gets a good environment and system, Bojan is a striker who can score 20 goals for Aberdeen.”
New signign Miovski is also a ‘fighter’
Capped 10 times by North Macedonia, striker Miovski played in the shock 1-0 World Cup play-off defeat of Italy in March.
He won the flick-on to allow Aleksandar Trajkovski to score the winner against the Euro 2020 champions.
However, the new Don will not be going to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as North Macedonia lost the play-off final 2-0 to Portugal.
Miovski featured in that play off final, North Macedonia’s biggest-ever game, as a substitute.
Although a cultured, skillful player, any Premiership defenders hoping to out-muscle Miovski are in for a shock.
Costantino said: “Bojan is a fighter.
“I think sometimes in British football fighting spirit is sometimes more important than technique and tactics.
“Bojan is very physical in a duel.
“In Scottish football, there are a lot of duels, but Bojan will be able to keep the ball and help the team go up.
“If he gets the confidence of the Aberdeen people, I think he will have a great season.”
Confidence will soar at Aberdeen
Miovski scored 10 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions for MTK Budapest last season.
Most of his goals came in the first half of the campaign under Costantino.
Following his exit, a new coach – György Bognár – played him sparingly or out of position.
Miovski only started two of the last 10 matches as MTK failed to avoid relegation from the Hungarian top flight.
Costantino explained: “Last season after I left the new coach used him as a winger but he is not a winger.
“Also many times he was on the bench.
“This stopped his development. But now I think with the move to Aberdeen his confidence will come.
“He is a very, very good player.”
‘Ambitious and wants to go forward’
Aberdeen boss Goodwin recently said his signings must have the correct mindset and be able to handle the weight of expectation that comes with playing for the Reds.
To ensure signing targets meet those criteria Goodwin confirmed he researches the character of players.
What is Miovski’s character?
Costantino said: “Bojan is a worker who will always give everything on the training ground.
🔴 Hard at work in Spain. pic.twitter.com/TkmTjxBXnc
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) June 29, 2022
“He is always willing to listen and he is very motivated.
“That is very important for a coach.
“He is ambitious and wants to go forward. Signing him is a very good move for Aberdeen.”
The lowdown on Ylber Ramadani
Costantino also managed Albanian international midfielder Ramadani at MTK Budapest.
The 26-year-old was secured for £100,000 from the Hungarian club in the first signing of Goodwin’s summer rebuild.
Aberdeen had hoped Ramadani would be able to train with the squad in Spain as his Visa has been approved.
However, Ramadani was unable to travel to Spain as he was waiting to receive his passport back from the Visa process.
‘Albanian but with a Scottish heart’
Aberdeen hope the midfielder will finally meet up with the squad in the Granite City this week.
Costantino believes Aberdeen have signed a leader who has a ‘Scottish heart’.
He said: “Ylber is a leader who has a fighting mentality and gives absolutely everything on the pitch.
“I’m sure that Aberdeen fans will love Ylber.
“For fighting spirit, he is the best.
“He is Albanian, but with a Scottish heart.
“Scottish players are usually ready to battle on the pitch with fighting spirit.
“In Europe, Scottish players are top for fighting spirit.
“He is Albanian, but I think Ylber has been watching Scottish games on how to play football.”
‘Ylber is a very good No.6 or No.8’
Capped 15 times by Albania, midfielder Ramadani signed a three-year contract with Aberdeen.
Ramadani scored twice in 31 appearances for MTK Budapest last season.
He had transferred to MTK in summer 2021 from Danish top flight outfit Vejle Boldklub (VB).
Costantino insists he will bring balance and steel to the Dons.
He said: “Ylber is a very good No.6 or No.8.
“He is a defensive midfielder who keeps the position very well and is very good in defensive duels.
“Ylber is not a technical player, who will make a key pass or anything like that.
“He is a player who keeps the position and keeps it simple.
“You don’t see players like Ylber make special teams in matches, but they are so important to keep the balance in the team.
“Outside the pitch I would always like players like him as he is so positive.
“He is very motivated and wanted to sign for a very big club like Aberdeen.”
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