Manchester United's New Serbian Talent: Zoran Tosic

Manchester United confirmed the signings of two young Serbian talents on Friday Jan. 2; 17-year old Adem Ljajic and 21-year old Zoran Tosic from FK Partizan Belgrade, in a deal eventually worth a reported £16.3million.

Ljajic was loaned back out to Partizan for their upcoming 2009 season on a 12-month loan deal in order to get the valuable first-team experience he needs.

On the other hand, Tosic will stay at Old Trafford, with the 21-year old left-sided winger likely to be given the opportunities he needs to impress in the EPL.

As Ljajic moves back to Serbia for a while, I'll take a closer look at the other young Serb who is staying in Manchester.

Zoran Tosic started his professional footballing career in 2004, with local club Proleter Zrenjanin, where he scored 4 goals in 16 first-team appearances for the Second Division side. 

But after their relegation to Serbia's third division, Proleter could no longer afford to keep hold of their prized asset, and were forced to sell him in the 2005/06 season, to local rivals FK Banat Zrenjanin, who play in the Serbia Superliga, the top league in the country.

At FK Banat, his performances in the league caught the eye of the Serbia U-21's, and at 19 years of age he became a regular in the side. But that's not all he caught the eye of.

Europe's elite became interested in the young star, after he showed off all his talent and skill in 35 appearances for Banat, scoring two crucial goals that helped them avoid relegation from the top flight.

In August 2007, a move beckoned for the 20-year old, as clearly he was too good to still be playing at FK Banat. And sure enough the best team in Serbia snapped him up, FK Partizan Belgrade handing the winger a four year contract.

And such a move meant he was also too good for the Serbia U-21's, with whom in just one season he made 12 appearances for, scoring twice, and playing a crucial part as they made it to the final of the 2007 UEFA European U-21 Championship.

In his first season in the Serbian capital, Tosic again continued to impress, with his performances elevating him to the senior Serbian national team.

And in his second season, he was once again bamboozling defenders with his pace, skill and sublime passing. And sure enough, English and European champions Manchester United came calling, and agreed a fee with FK Partizan on Nov. 22.

After a drawn out transfer saga, Zoran Tosic finally left FK Partizan Belgrade where he joins the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, becoming a member of the World Club Champions, Manchester United FC.

In his short career in Belgrade, he was a vital part of the Partizan team, making 46 appearances and scoring 14 goals in just one and a half seasons.

So far he has made 12 appearances for Serbia's national team. That number is likely to increase now he has the chance to showcase to the world his pace, skill, sublime passing and just pure talent.

Hopefully for United, and of course for Serbia, Zoran Tosic can follow in the footsteps of his fellow countryman, the great centre-back Nemanja Vidic.