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Written by Miran Zore for Nogomania:
In 2018, aged just 19, Jaka Bijol left Slovenia to join Russia’s CSKA Moscow, where staff quickly noticed the towering defensive midfielder’s serious potential as centre-back. CSKA coach Aleksei Berezutski convinced him to try it out. "I didn't object, so I gave it a go,” Bijol remembers. “It turned out to be a bullseye. In the new position, I didn't imitate anyone, I just tried to play as best as I could.” His displays there earned him a move to Italy with Udinese in 2022 where he has become a defensive pillar. At international level he has also proved a worthy replacement for long-time captain Bostjan Cesar, the former Marseille and Chievo centre-back, who is now an assistant to Slovenian coach Matjaz Kek. Before the Euros began Bijol was being linked with Roma and Inter: we could see him making the step up to one of Europe’s top sides next season.