Ilcho Naumoski officially signed with Inter Bakı, but made interesting comments to an Austrian newspaper that Partizan and Livorno also made contract offers.
Naumoski officially signed a 1-year contract with Inter Bakı on Wednesday with an option for an additional season. Once the signing was completed, Austrian newspaper “sportnet.at” conducted an interview with Naumoski. Ilcho has always been a polarizing player in Austria so there was an interest in where he would end up.
The biggest revelation from the interview was that Naumoski told “sportnet.at” that he chose Inter Bakı over Livorno, a newly promoted Serie A club, Partizan and clubs in the Middle East. In particular, Naumoski said Partizan wanted him one day before he put pen to contract with Inter Bakı.
Now, whether this is true or sensationalized is only known by Naumoski, his agent and the aforementioned clubs. From anyone who has followed the Macedonian national team in the past, Naumoski is known as a huge Partizan fan. He told the newspaper that he ultimately chose Inter Bakı because they offered the most money, a big factor in his decision making as he approaches the last few years of his career.
This is not the first time that Naumoski has bragged about certain teams trying to sign him. Last year, in an interview with newspaper “90minuten.at,” Ilcho said half of Europe wanted him when he was 20 years old in 2003, and specifically singled out a meeting with then Roma coach Fabio Capello. Naumoski said that transfer fell through after he sustained an injury soon thereafter.