He
Atlético de Madrid
completed on the 20th his first signing for the new season, the Croatian international goalkeeper Ivo Grbic, who signed his contract for four seasons, until 2024.
An operation that included the transfer of the Brazilian Alex Dos Santos, goalkeeper of the quarry, to Lokomotiva Zagreb. The Croatian became the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in his country. An award for him, signing for a club like him Athletic.
For the SplitBeyond the enormous step in his career, it had a special significance because signing for an entity as big as the rojiblanca was a dream for the goalkeeper's father. And his father knew about this because he was president of the Hadjuk Split.
“I know that my late father Josip, who is in heaven, will be very proud of his son, he always believed in me and encouraged me, ”the archer acknowledged to‘Sportske novosti'The day after his hiring is made official.
After a long and serious illness, the former president and director of Hajduk Josip Grbić He passed away in 2017 at the age of 51. He was a very polite and correct man, even too emotional. He was a lawyer by profession. As a young man he played in the lower categories of the Hadjuk split until a car accident that separated him from active soccer, when Grbić switched to water sports. So for a time he was actively involved in water polo and diving.
But above all, the father of the new Atlético de Madrid I was a fanatic fan of Hadjuk even so as not to be ashamed that at the age of seven he cried when he could not see the semifinals of the Recopa against him Leeds United in Split in April 1973 due to a broken leg.
In August 2009, Grbić became the director of Hajduk, a dream come true for him. And from there, to the presidency in 2010, being one of the most successful. Curiously, his son progressed in the youth club of the Split and reached the first team. Something in which the president had nothing to do with. Sometimes, the new Atlético goalkeeper complained that more than helping, it was counterproductive for him, because he was sidelined in several categories until he finally chose to go to the Lokomotiva, where did the Athletic.
YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The new mattress goal is exultant. “I am proud of everything I have done so far in my career, I have stayed firmly on the ground and I am aware that I am actually on a new beginning. I spoke with representatives of the AthleticThey told me that they had followed me for two years and that they believed in me a lot. So everything depends on me, I have the opportunity to defend in one of the best clubs in the world and I will work everything I can to fight one day for a place between the goal of Athletic“Said the Balkan, who was surprised by the intensity of the medical tests.
“Upon arriving at Madrid Wednesday afternoon, I was immediately tested for COVID-19
. Everything was fine, the test came back negative and on Thursday morning I had a medical examination. In fact, we started in the morning, around 8, and it was all over six or seven hours later. They really examined me in detail, it was a demanding and hard medical examination, I was very tired, but the most important thing is that I am healthy and after the examination I signed a four-year contract with him. Athletic”, He stated.
The goalkeeper acknowledged that he has not yet been able to speak with Simeone: “All the players and coaches are on vacation. I spoke with the president and the directors of the club, I thanked them for everything. It's great that a club like him Athletic buy a player from Lokomotiva, we have to be aware that our league is not exactly among the best of Europe And it's a true miracle when a handover like this happens. So I thanked them for the opportunity they offered me and now everything depends on me ”.
The meta joked that
Oblak It has the number that he has traditionally worn. “Yes, Oblak He has my 13. I have not chosen a number yet, when I get to the club's preparations we will solve everything “, he explained to admit that he hopes to learn a lot:” If I was not prepared for such a big step, I would not have even come. And I know that in Madrid I will be a better person and a better goalkeeper, I am aware of the great challenge, but I am full of confidence in myself and the desire to succeed. (…) I will be on the bench, I will train at the highest level and the people of the club have told me that I will definitely have a chance during the season because the Athletic he usually plays 60 games a year ”.