Who is Matija Frigan?

Matija Frigan is a 23-year-old Croatian striker who currently plays for Parma in Serie A.

How much did Parma pay for Frigan?

Parma paid a €9 million transfer fee to Belgian club Westerlo for Frigan.

What injuries has Frigan suffered?

After joining Parma, Frigan tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee, and then also tore his meniscus, also in the left knee.

When did Frigan return to the pitch?

Frigan returned to the pitch against Catania in the Cup, a year after his last appearance.

Football

Matija Frigan: I Cried All Day After Second Serious Knee Injury

A.R. · Prije 7h | 2 min

Matija Frigan (23) has endured two serious knee injuries since joining Parma, and now he is finally ready for his debut in the Italian top flight.

Summary

Matija Frigan (23) is finally ready for his Serie A debut with Parma.
He has been through two serious left knee injuries since arriving from Westerlo.
Parma paid €9 million for him, and he previously shone at Rijeka with 15 goals in 32 matches.
His first appearance is expected on Saturday against Cagliari.

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Matija Frigan, the 23-year-old Croatian striker for Parma, has been named among the ten starters for the new Serie A season "you haven't heard of" by Gazzetta dello Sport. The Italian sports daily highlights that Frigan is one of the players in the Italian elite who is unknown even to those who follow Serie A closely, and the reason lies in his incredible misfortune with injuries.

Frigan joined Parma last summer from Belgian side Westerlo, with Parma paying a €9 million transfer fee. However, after just a few training sessions, the first serious injury occurred. "Frigan has been incredibly unlucky. The Croatian striker joined Parma last summer from Belgian side Westerlo, but after just a few training sessions, he tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee. Surgery, rehabilitation, and a slow return to the pitch. Then came another setback - he tore his meniscus, and his left knee failed him again," reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

I Cried All Day

The second injury was a particularly heavy blow for the young striker. "After the second injury, I cried all day," Frigan told Gazzetta dello Sport, adding: "I was devastated, and it was hard for my family too. That's when I told myself to forget that season and just work to be ready for the next one."

Frigan has succeeded in that. In the Cup match against Catania, after a full year of absence, he played again. His next challenge is Serie A, where he will play against Cagliari on Saturday.

From Rijeka to Serie A

Four years ago, Frigan shone in his debut season in the Croatian top flight. During his time at Rijeka, he scored 15 goals in 32 appearances, which earned him a transfer to Westerlo for a €6 million fee. In two seasons in Belgium, he played 75 matches and scored 20 goals, before moving to Parma for €9 million. After a year of waiting, his debut in one of the strongest leagues is finally here.