Nikola Kalinic (Split, Croatia, 1988) He has been one of the great Croatian forwards of the last decade. The ‘9’, world runner-up with Croatia in Russia 2018, left his goals in the Premier with Blackburn Rovers, in Serie A with Fiorentina, Milan, Roma and Hellas Verona and in LaLiga with Atlético de Madrid .
“He has a lot of commitment. He is a good reference in attack and works very well. He brings many offensive solutions to the team,” said a Simeone who always highlighted his professionalism. However, Kalinic did not have a great role in the Metropolitano. He arrived in 2018 for 15 million euros from Milan and He only played 24 games (1,090 minutes) in which he scored four goals (two of them in the Cup).
Diego Costa, Morata, Correa, Griezmann… blocked his way in attack and he was loaned to Roma in 2019 before leaving Atleti and go to Hellas Verona for 1.8 ‘kilos’ in 2020. “We played with only one forward. It was a good experience working with Cholo“he said in his presentation with the ‘giallorossi’.
Third stage in Split
About to turn 36 years old, Kalinic has decided to return home… again. In February 2022, he returned to the Hajduk Split where he trained and debuted in 2005-06. In the middle of the season he scored four goals with the runner-up of the last Croatian League. However, ‘Condor’ did not renew and took a break. Now, the forward, after several months of ‘vacation’, has signed again for the Split team for one euro per month of salary! “It has been the easiest agreement of my career”confessed the former Atlético player, who will wear the ‘9’.
It was the easiest deal of my career.
Nikola Kalinic, forward of Hajduk Split
“Nikola returns with one goal: help Hajduk win the title after 19 years,” explained director Mindaugas Nikolicius. The Split team has not lifted the League since 2004-05… a season before Kalinic debuted! Now, they are leaders with six points ahead of Rijeka, who have one game less, and seven points ahead of Dinamo Zagreb, who have played two games less.
Nikola returns with one goal: to help Hajduk win the title after 19 years
Mindaugas Nikolicius, director of Hajduk Split
Kalinic, who has not competed since May and will have a specific training plan to be ready for coach Mislav Karoglan, He has returned to the team of his life to ‘champion’. That will be his only reward.
2024-01-04 05:15:06
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