Hear John Mellberg about the similarities with father Olof and his importance to playing football.
An inverted right winger who rather excelled in the offensive. That’s how John Mellberg played his football just a few years ago.
– Then I just got further and further down the track. Soon I might even step in as a goalkeeper, he says, smiling.
The 18-year-old is described as a sturdy, tough centre-back with a silky left foot. During the summer of last year, he was sold by BP to RB Salzburg. A club where players like Erling Haaland and Dominik Szoboszlai have broken through.
– It has felt good and went well with football.
How he sees coming to a club that paved the way for great players?
– It definitely played into how I thought when I went to the club. How they did before and that I hope it will be the same for me.
Got to debut
Mellberg believes that so far it has been an experience. Of course, it was professional in BP, but it is of course a difference to come to “such a big club”.
Last season he was loaned to partner club FC Liefering and got playing time in the Austrian second division. This summer, the contract with RB Salzburg was extended – and on August 10 he had to make his starting debut.
– It was powerful to go out in front of such an audience for the first time, also a little pressure from the stands, so it was a powerful feeling.
Back to the introduction with the position change. He is now a centre-back, just like father Olof (now BP coach) was, with 117 international matches for Sweden to his name and previously in club teams such as Aston Villa, Juventus and Olympiakos.
How big a role did he play in you eventually becoming a centre-back?
– I don’t know. I guess it was me who made that decision. But he has always said that I will be a center back in the end. He always knew it.
Dreaming of the Premier League
Is that extra pride on his part there?
– Well, maybe because he has a different connection to it, but I think he would have been proud of me anyway.
What do you dream about?
– For me right now it’s probably the Premier League and the Champions League. It’s always been a dream to stand there and hear the song when you walk in.