As Toni Fruk prepares for an exit transfer, coach Matjaž Kek has a ready solution within his own dressing room. Meanwhile, Kustošija has brought in the son of a Uruguayan legend.
The departure of Rijeka's standout player Toni Fruk from Rujevica seems increasingly certain, but coach Matjaž Kek is not wasting any time. The Slovenian tactician has already devised a plan to compensate for his playing qualities, with key roles in the new lineup expected to be taken by Gabriel Rukavina and Niko Janković, according to Sportklub, citing Sportske novosti.
The main asset expected to receive full playing time in the remainder of the season is 22-year-old winger Gabriel Rukavina. Although he has been at Rijeka for two years, it is only now under Kek's leadership that he feels the genuine support needed for his development. That the club heavily relies on him is evidenced by the fact that a month ago, they turned down a concrete offer from another second-tier German club, precisely at Kek's request.
The opening of space for Rukavina on the left side of the attack is directly linked to changes in midfield. Here, Niko Janković emerges as the key figure, having returned from a loan spell in Slovakia. His performances are improving with each match, and the confidence he lost in the previous period is now returning. Kek sees him as the natural successor to Fruk and plans to move him from the wing to the classic "number 10" position, where Janković feels most comfortable and where he developed through Dinamo's academy.
While preparations are underway at Rujevica for life without Fruk, Kustošija has secured an interesting addition. According to Telegram, the new member of the First NL has brought in 21-year-old Mauro Zalazar, a Spanish-Uruguayan midfielder who arrives in Zagreb from German club Schalke as a free agent. The transfer was facilitated by Andy Bara and his agency Niagara Sports Company.
The young player failed to secure significant first-team minutes in Germany, making only two appearances for the senior side. He spent most of his time with Schalke's second team, where he scored two goals in 19 appearances. The German club has also secured a percentage of any future sale.
The arrival of Mauro Zalazar is made even more intriguing by his family's footballing heritage. He is the youngest of three sons of José Zalazar, a former Uruguayan international who left a significant mark on Spanish football. José Zalazar also played at the 1986 World Cup, and that same year he particularly stood out in Mexico, where he finished the season as the league's top scorer with 41 goals while playing for Universidad de Guadalajara.
Kustošija thus continues to bring in interesting names within Andy Bara's project, with the team's most notable player so far being the experienced El Arbi Hillel Soudani.
