Serbia boss Ljubiša Tumbaković questions Luka Jović's commitment | OneFootball

One of the more disappointing football stories of the season has been the progress of Real Madrid striker Luka Jović.

The 22-year-old, who cost Real Madrid €60m over the summer, has only scored once in 14 appearances since his arrival and hasn’t got on well with the Serbian national team either.

Jović famously left the Serbia camp in September with a supposed ankle injury during a three-minute cameo against Portugal, missing a European qualifier against Luxembourg only to come off the bench for Real Madrid just four days later.

“I take care of every player so that they do their very best with Serbia, I never gave up on anyone,” Tumbaković told Blic Sport.

“One of those players who kind of got away from the national team is Jović, and there’s only one truth: There’s no conflict between Jović and me.

“Jović’s problem is Luka Jović. He suddenly left training and he didn’t answer his phone.

“As a coach I’ll always have a player with his class in the team because it wouldn’t be professional for me to not think about him.

“But it’s him who has to convince us – the media, the fans, the FA and me, as his coach – that he’s ready and responsible.

“He hasn’t taken any steps in that direction.”

On Monday, the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) announced that Jović will return to the Serbia squad for their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Norway on 26 March.

Should Serbia advance, they will face the winner of Scotland and Israel.