Slobodan Rubezic has explained why he left Aberdeen for a return to his homeland this week.
Rubezic, 24, re-joined his former club FK Novi Pazar on Thursday, sealing a loan switch until the end of the 2024-25 season.
Although the Scottish transfer window closed ten days ago, Serbian SuperLiga clubs were still able to conduct business until February 14, allowing the move to go through.
Rubezic joined Aberdeen under Barry Robson in August 2023, making 57 appearances and scoring once.
However, a series of errors - including an avoidable red card against Motherwell on January 5 - saw the Montenegro international fall down the pecking order at Pittodrie over recent weeks.
Seeking more playing opportunities Rubezic then initiated a premature loan exit from the Granite City.
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His last Aberdeen appearance would come during a 3-0 home Scottish Premiership defeat to St Mirren on January 25, where he asked his boss to be substituted before half-time following a costly mistake that led to the second goal.
Some Dons fans jeered him as he left the field, with many suggesting that there was no way back for him at the club despite being contracted until the summer of 2026.
But it’s since believed that Rubezic was dealing with “personal issues” and that’s why moving closer to home will be of benefit for the time being.
Addressing what some have called a “strange decision” to let a key player leave during such a crucial stage of the season, Rubezic explained his stance.
“There are enough circumstances that I don’t want to talk about publicly,” he said during his Novi Pazar unveiling.
“I am grateful to those people for coming to my aid and allowing me to return here, where I feel the best. Many people find my decision strange. Some interpret it this way, some that way.
“For me, the most important thing right now is to be here. I am close to my family, I am at home.
“I want to play and get the best possible result by the summer and I am not interested in the rest. I don’t want to waste time on why and how. It is best this way.
“I wouldn't talk about some things, the most important thing for me is that I came back here.
“Let's get to work. I hope everything will be fine and that we will achieve the greatest possible success."
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There's been suggestions in Serbia that Novi Pazar have an option-to-buy the defender in the summer.
However, discussing Rubezic's departure at his latest press conference, Thelin stated: "I don't want to talk about it too much, but it's good sometimes for a player to be closer to home and also still playing football.
"He's human. Everybody knows he's not a robot, but you always try to find the best way for everyone and it's different reasons sometimes. This way was a good match with game time and closer to the family. So he can find regular game time, but also have this closer to the family.
"He's still an Aberdeen player, and that's why you have to try to make good decisions every time. If you believe in something, and that's the best decision for an Aberdeen football club and individual player I think we have found a good way in this moment to come to this decision.
“I think the competition is strong inside the squad and we always have a dialogue with the players to do the best thing for everyone and in this moment it was good for him to get more game time closer to home for some personal reasons.”
