Mišković: Fruk has an agreement to stay, new winger on the way
Rijeka's president discusses key personnel matters, search for a general sponsor, and plans for the rest of the transfer window in a major interview.
Rijeka's president discusses key personnel matters, search for a general sponsor, and plans for the rest of the transfer window in a major interview.
Damir Miskovic, president of HNK Rijeka, revealed in an extensive interview for the portal Torpedo.media that there is a verbal agreement with midfielder Toni Fruk to extend his contract if no transfer materializes by the end of the transfer window. This news is crucial for Rijeka, given that Fruk's current contract expires at the end of the season.
Miskovic did not hide his desire to sell one of the league's best players but emphasized that there is a clear plan for both scenarios. "Fruk stays until someone buys him," Miskovic said, adding: "We have a verbal agreement that if he isn't sold, he'll extend his contract. We'll see what happens with him. I'd like, and I think it's time for him to be sold, but we just need to stay calm."
Recall that Rijeka paid nearly four million euros to Fiorentina for the rights to Fruk's transfer. Losing the player for free in the summer would be a significant financial blow to the club, making the new contract agreement of utmost importance. According to unofficial information, Miskovic is asking at least ten million euros for his gem, but no concrete offer that would satisfy Rijeka has arrived so far, although Fruk has been linked with several clubs.
Rijeka started the new season without a general sponsor's name on the front of their shirt, which Miskovic openly commented on. Although he confirmed that negotiations with one company are in an advanced stage, a signing won't happen soon.
"We're close to signing with a new general sponsor, but it won't happen for another 5-6 months for sure. They're just coming to Croatia, and we're in talks with them. But it's that shame that we, as Rijeka, after all those successes, can't find a sponsor. I've already said, whoever brings a sponsor gets 10 percent of the earnings," said the club's top man from Rujevica.
Miskovic also touched on the playing squad, admitting that at one point there were too many players. "We worked on reducing the squad; it was too big. We panicked that we needed more players, but it turned out we didn't, but okay. Every time a coach is here, you have to meet his demands, but this year we've been deliberately resolving or selling players, and we'll continue," he explained.
As for arrivals, the priority is clear: a winger. "It's not easy to find a winger, but the sporting directors are certainly working on it. We've found a couple of wingers that meet our criteria. I think one more winger will come, from abroad. Unfortunately, there aren't any here. We've taken what we could in Croatia," Miskovic concluded. After Yusuf Kabadayi, the 22-year-old winger who arrived on loan from Augsburg until the end of the season with a purchase option, Rijeka is targeting another addition for that position.
In the interview, Miskovic also touched on former national team coach Zlatko Dalic, who did not take Fruk to the World Cup. "We're all disappointed when our favorite doesn't play, but Zlatko is his own man. You can't tell Zlatko 'this one or that one must play,' and that's his great value. At that moment, the guys who played were better than Fruk, unfortunately. Let's remember that Fruk had a long layoff due to a hand problem, and that was the reason he didn't play," he said. He added that Dalic did a fantastic job and that it was better for everyone that he stepped down while at his peak.
He particularly highlighted the return of Matjaz Kek to the Rijeka bench, calling him one of the biggest signings of the season. Under his leadership, Rijeka has started with four wins, which has further fueled optimism ahead of the league's continuation and European challenges.
