Krovinović Shines at Grêmio Presentation
Croatian midfielder tells Brazil he's not here to sightsee, but to help a team fighting for survival in the league.
Croatian midfielder tells Brazil he's not here to sightsee, but to help a team fighting for survival in the league.
Croatian footballer Filip Krovinović (30) was officially unveiled as a Grêmio player on Tuesday. At his presentation at the Luiz Carvalho training center in Porto Alegre, he was handed the number eight shirt and sent a clear message about his ambitions in his new surroundings.
His move to Brazil was no accident. Krovinović revealed that before the transfer, he spoke with former club striker Jonas, with whom he shared a dressing room at Benfica. "He explained to me how big this club and this city are, and how much people here live for football," Krovinović shared his impressions from that conversation.
A key role in his decision was played by coach Luís Castro, with whom the Croatian midfielder worked from 2016 to 2017 at Portugal's Rio Ave. Krovinović arrived at Grêmio after mutually terminating his contract with Hajduk, where he was in the final year of his deal.
"I was in the last year of my contract with Hajduk. I had offers from other clubs, but I wanted to accept this challenge because I know that with my experience I can help the team," he said. He stressed that the pressure doesn't worry him because he's used to playing on the big stage. "In Croatia, I played for a big club like Hajduk. I'm ready. I didn't come here to play around or see the city, but to play football and help the team," he stated.
Speaking about his role on the pitch, Krovinović emphasized that he can cover multiple positions. "I've played in every position in midfield. I love having the ball, dictating the tempo, contributing in attack and defense, and giving my all until the last minute. I'll play wherever the coach thinks I'm most needed," he said.
His adaptation is made easier by his knowledge of Portuguese, which he learned while playing for Rio Ave and Benfica from 2015 to 2019. He has already watched Grêmio's last match from the stands, and on Thursday he will attend the Brazilian Cup match against Mirassol, although he is not yet eligible to play.
Grêmio currently sits in 17th place among the 20 teams in the Brazilian top flight, which further underscores the importance of Krovinović's arrival. Club vice-president Rafael Lima highlighted that the transfer was the result of a joint assessment by the coaching staff and the scouting department.
"He's a player with rich experience in European football, and we are confident he will be a great addition," Lima concluded.
