Nathaniel Asamoah, the local manager of Douglas Owusu, has told Footy-Africa that Czech side Viktoria Plzen came close to signing the young Ghanaian forward before his eventual move to Red Star Belgrade.
Asamoah, who has represented Owusu since his breakthrough days in Ghana with lower-division side Asekem FC, described the switch to the Serbian giants as the right step in the player’s development. He disclosed that Red Star edged Plzen by a narrow margin in negotiations.
Owusu has signed a three-year contract with an option for an additional year, completing a landmark transfer from FK Radnik Surdulica. Red Star Belgrade paid a fee in the region of €2.7 million for the teenage forward, while Viktoria Plzen submitted a €2.5 million bid that ultimately fell short by €200,000.
“Red Star Belgrade is obviously the biggest club in Serbia, with a rich history and strong European pedigree,” Asamoah said. “They have a very good coach, excellent facilities, and a clear football structure. Importantly, they also have one of the most respected former players in Europe, Marco Marin, serving as sporting director, which gives young players confidence about the project.”
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He added that the decision was based on long-term development rather than finances alone.
“We believe this is the ideal place for Douglas at this stage of his career,” he continued. “Red Star showed strong belief in him from the beginning and presented a clear pathway for growth. Viktoria Plzen came very close with an offer of €2.5 million, but Red Star’s proposal and vision made the difference in the end.”
Owusu enjoyed an impressive spell at Radnik Surdulica, scoring seven goals in 20 league appearances. He also stood out for his work rate, pressing, and intelligent movement in advanced areas, qualities that attracted interest from clubs across Europe.
The Ghanaian forward joined Radnik in 2024 from Asekem FC and now takes the next step in his career with Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, after narrowly missing out on a move to Viktoria Plzen.
