UD Almeria central defender and co-captain Srđan Babić has been called up to the Serbia senior squad to play in the imminent World Cup in Qatar 2022. The 26-year-old footballer told the Club's official media ahead of his international duty: ‘I found out about it as soon as I finished training and I’m delighted; The truth is that I was really excited, but it wasn’t easy to get on the list because there’s so much talent.’

After receiving the great news, UD Almeria were thrilled: ‘All my team-mates, the coaching staff... I still haven't taken it in and I don't really know what to say. Playing a World Cup is a dream for any footballer.’

Babić reflected ‘I've been at UD Almería for a year and a half now; I came to achieve a clear objective, such as promotion to the top flight, but the Club has also made it possible for me to make it to my home country's national team. I can’t thank everyone enough.. team-mates, coaching staff, managers, employees. Everyone has helped me loads. After being in Spanish football when I was very young and returning to my country, to join Estrella Roja de Belgrado, UD Almería have been like a new start and they’ve given me this golden opportunity. I’ve never given up.’

The Banja Luka native centre-back has already started to go into healthy competition with his Brazilian peers in the dressing room because the Serbia squad are in Group G along with Brazil, Switzerland and Cameroon. Babić recalled ‘we won the U20 World Cup seven years ago playing the final against Brazil; now we’ll be meeting again in the first match of this World Cup.’