Bajraktarević Rewarded After Second Team Success

Bajraktarević: “It shows that hard work pays off. So, if you do well with the second team and you show that you belong up here, then you're going to get your opportunity. It's been good.”

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Esmir Bajraktarević started for the New England Revolution on Mar. 25, but his next appearance didn’t happen until Apr. 15. In between, the Homegrown player made consecutive appearances for the second team.

Some might have been frustrated by this sequence of events, but the 18-year-old didn’t let it affect him.

Bajraktarević came off the bench to score a late game-winner against NYCFC II on Apr. 2. One week later, he collected a goal in a 90-minute performance against the Union’s second team.

Bajraktarević has now made back-to-back starts with the first team.

“I take it as a positive,” Bajraktarević said about playing with Revs II. “Because I’m playing at a lower level, I should be dominating. I should be showing why I belong up here. I just take it as a positive and play my game.”

Bajraktarević played just over 60 minutes against both the Columbus Crew and Sporting KC. He had opportunities to score in both games, but it didn’t happen.

When asked if his first goal is coming, Bajraktarević simply said, “Yeah, soon.”

The midfielder, who loves to have the ball at his feet, stated that Carles Gil is someone he looks up to because they “play a similar style.” Bajraktarević’s creative dribbling has earned him the nickname “Milwaukee Messi,” an ode to his Wisconsin roots.

During the off-season, Bajraktarević trained with AZ Alkmaar. Sources tell me that the Dutch club had a genuine interest in adding him.

While Europe is certainly a possibility for Bajraktarević, he’s currently looking to make waves with the Revolution’s first team. It’s a spot that he’s earned after doing so well with the second team.

“It shows that hard work pays off,” Bajraktarević said. “So, if you do well with the second team and you show that you belong up here, then you're going to get your opportunity. It's been good.”