A. Novikovas: "If I didn't want to play for the national team, I wouldn't be playing club football anymore."

2025-07-25 13:06 © SIPA

Last Saturday, Arvydas Novikovas, selected as the three-time best football player in Lithuania, who had been camping in Visaginas with the Baltic Football Academy team, packed his bag and headed towards the capital after calls from the head coach of "Riteriai," Gintautas Vaičiūnas, and president Janas Nevoinas.

"To be honest, I thought for two days about what to do, but both coach Edgaras Jankauskas and my friends said that I should accept the offer," said A. Novikovas before Friday's training. Just a day later, the 34-year-old footballer was set to make his debut against "Sūduva." The coach sent Arvydas onto the field again after a break, and within just three minutes, he created the best scoring opportunity of the match.

"It was only after the replay that I saw their defender smartly nudged me with his shoulder. He didn't risk with an eleven-meter penalty, and I lost my balance a bit," said the footballer.

One of the most prolific footballers in the history of the Lithuanian national team has another month to prove to E. Jankauskas that he deserves to be called up for the national team window in September. "If I didn't want to be in the national team, I wouldn't be playing club football anymore," said A. Novikovas, who is just four matches away from reaching the hundred mark.