SUMMARY
- Nicola Kalinic played a total of 147 matches in top-flight soccer in Italy and represented clubs like AC Milan, AS Roma, Hellas Verona, and Fiorentina.
- Several reasons might have tempted Nicola to sign the contract with Croatian club Hajduk Split.
The former Croatian international player Nicola Kalinic is mostly known for stints in the Seria A at club level with some of the best-known Italian clubs. The 35-year-old played a total of 147 matches in top-flight soccer in Italy. He represented clubs like AC Milan, AS Roma, Hellas Verona, and Fiorentina.
A recent report involving Nikola Kalinic has been posted by soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano on ‘X’. It has been said that Croatian club Hajduk Split has signed Nicola as a free agent. The deal offers the player a five-month contract. However, the most astonishing part of this transfer is the monetary figure involved in it.
🇭🇷 Hajduk Split sign Nikola Kalinić as free agent on 5 month contract… on €1 salary. Yes, €1! ❤️
“This was easiest deal in my 3 years at Hajduk — it’s 1€ salary”.
“Nikola returns with one aim, help Hajduk to win the title after 19 years”, says director Mindaugas Nikoličius. pic.twitter.com/ldG2PWfxLj
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 3, 2024
The player’s salary at the club is reported to be “€1” ($1.10). Considering the higher figures offered these days to soccer players, Nikola’s salary at Hajduk can rattle a few records. The club’s director, Mindaugas Nikolicius, has something to say about this deal.
Nikolicius stated, “This was easiest deal in my three years at Hajduk-it’s 1€ salary”. He also pointed to the player helping them win the Croatian League after 19 years. Several reasons might have tempted Nicola to sign this contract. The first one is that Hajduk is his boyhood club since he played for the club earlier. Another reason that stands out is that Croatia is his home country.
Playing in the Croatian League will give him the opportunity to stay close to his family. Also, at the age of 35, very few players get any professional soccer contracts. So, Nikola, knowing that he is well past his best days in the sport, might have considered this deal a decent opportunity to follow his passion by playing soccer and to be able to keep himself on his feet.
Nikola Kalinic’s stats for Hajduk Split
Nikola Kalinic has previously played for Hajduk Split in his career. He has represented the club for about four seasons in the Croatian league called SuperSport HNL. The 35-year-old played 25 matches for the club in the 2007-2008 season. He scored 17 goals and registered six assists that season.
The former Seria A striker took the field for Hajduk 28 times in the 2008–2009 season. He went on to net 15 goals for the club and registered six assists. Nikola returned to the club for the season 2021-2022. In his return season, he played 11 matches for the club and registered four goals and two assists to his tally in that season.
In his previous season for the club in 2022-2023, he played 18 games for the club. During these matches, he scored four goals and assisted one. Nikola showed promise to the club’s hierarchy. The player looked sharp in front of the goal. Now that Hajduk Split is signing him once again, it remains to be seen how things pan out for him at his boyhood Croatian club.