Croatian centre-back Rocco Žiković, 20, stated that after last season he asked the club to enable him the next step and a loan to top-flight football. He said everything was moving towards him continuing the season elsewhere, but at the start of preparations, two centre-backs at Red Bull Salzburg got injured and people from the club together with the Liefering coach stopped his departure and rejected all offers. Žiković said that when the decision was made for him to stay in Salzburg, the Liefering coach had already chosen a captain for the season. Žiković also stated that people from the club did not want to discuss his departure and that was the beginning and end of all stories. He also said that at the start of the current transfer window he wanted to change clubs in order to play top-flight football, but it did not happen. His contract with the club is set to expire on June 30, 2027, and his market value is estimated by Transfermarkt to be €300k.