July 1, 2022 - The latest Croatian football transfer news for Dinamo, Hajduk, and Rijeka ahead of the new HNL season.
Dinamo
The talented midfielder Marko Brkljača, one of the greatest young talents in the world, is a new Dinamo player.
Marko was born in 2004 in Zadar and started his career as a child at club NK Velebit Benkovac. After that, he joined the ranks of Hajduk, where, in addition to his football development, he played in the Youth Champions League last season as a junior team member. Brkljača is continuously a member of the younger age groups of the Croatia national team.
In The Guardian's 'Next Generation,' Marko was included in the list of TOP 60 young football talents in the world in 2021.
"My first impressions are excellent; I am delighted about coming to Dinamo. Now it's all up to me. I need to prove myself in football terms. I desire to win my place, assert myself and show what I know and why I came. I want to play in the HNL and Europe in the future. Dinamo has excellent quality. I think everything will be as it should be in the new season, by which I mean that the club will be the champion of Croatia again and will be successful in European competitions.
I look forward to everything that lies ahead. I am sure that I can progress and contribute to Dinamo. I want to take this opportunity to thank Hajduk for the football knowledge and experience I have gained there in recent years," said Marko upon his arrival at the Zagreb club.
Hajduk
Hajduk announced on Friday that captain Lovre Kalinić would remain at the Split club for the next three years. On Thursday, Lovre terminated his contract with the English Premier League side Aston Villa by mutual consent and signed a contract with Hajduk until the summer of 2025.
The current captain started his goalkeeping career at Poljud, where he arrived at the age of nine and passed all the younger age categories of the Academy. So far, he has played 191 official matches for Hajduk. He made his debut in 2011 in an away victory against Slaven Belupo. In his last appearance, he led Hajduk to the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup title in a 3:1 victory against Rijeka at Poljud.
Lovre is also the club record holder with 775 minutes without conceding a goal in HNL matches. This record was set by Hajduk's goalkeeper in 2015 when he did not concede a goal for eight games in a row. He also made 19 official appearances for the Croatia A national team.
"I can never refuse Hajduk. I came back here at a demanding moment in my career, the club gave me a chance to revive myself as a goalkeeper, and I did not want to miss this opportunity to sign for Hajduk. My only wish was to stay there and that eventually came true," said Kalinić.
Rijeka
Matej Mitrović has returned to Rijeka. On Friday, Matej underwent a medical examination, signed a new contract, and should join his teammates for training in Kranjska Gora this afternoon.
"It's nice to return to Rijeka after so many years. A good club, nice city, great fans, and I'm satisfied," said Matej Mitrović upon his arrival in Rijeka.
After two seasons in the Cibalija jersey, Mitrović arrived in Rijeka in September 2013. He made his debut in the Croatian Cup round of 16 match against Zmaj (11:0) on October 9 of the same year. After that, he made his debut in the HNL, wearing the Rijeka jersey for the first time in the victory against Zadar (October 19, 2013), but everyone will point out the match against Hajduk on April 6, 2014, as the most crucial game that directed his path. Namely, Dario Knežević had to leave the pitch due to an injury at halftime, and Mitrović got the chance.
"As every year, we want to compete for the top of the table. I want to fit into the team as soon as possible. I invite fans to support us this season, as in previous years. Only Rijeka!" concluded Mitrović.
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