The REAL reason for Slobodan Rubezic's Aberdeen transfer exit as Jimmy Thelin debunks substitute request theory

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that Slobodan Rubezic has returned to Novi Pazar for 'personal reasons' and to be closer to his family.

The Montenegro international has returned to his former club on-loan for the rest of the season, but there is no option to buy in the summer. Rubezic came in for some stick after the recent defeat to St Mirren, where he was involved in the loss of both goals and then asked to come off.

The big defender, however, has had to deal with some bigger issues outside of football and Thelin has admitted this temporary move was the best solution for him. The Aberdeen manager explained: “Yeah, that's why I said before, I don't want to talk about it too much, but it's good sometimes for a player to be closer to home and also still playing football. Yes, but he's human.

"Everybody knows he's not a robot, but you always try to find the best way for everyone and it's different reasons sometimes, but this way was a good match with game time and closer to the family. So he can find regular game time, but also have this closer to the family.”

It had been claimed in the Serbian media that Novi Pazar had an option to buy but that isn’t the case. Thelin has also insisted that he expects Rubezic to be back in red next season. Thelin stated: “Yes, he's still an Aberdeen player.

“Yeah, I hope so and that's why you have to try to make good decisions every time. If you believe in something, and that's the best decision for an Aberdeen football club and individual player I think we have found a good way in this moment to come to this decision.”

It has been helped by the fact that Thelin has brought in central defenders Kristers Tobers, Mats Knoester and Alfie Dorrington in this window. The Swede