Rijeka signs young Croatian international from Stuttgart
Nikolas Matić, a former member of Germany's U-16 national team who has chosen to represent Croatia, has signed a two-year contract with Rijeka, with an option to extend for two more years.
Nikolas Matić, a former member of Germany's U-16 national team who has chosen to represent Croatia, has signed a two-year contract with Rijeka, with an option to extend for two more years.
HNK Rijeka has announced the arrival of young Croatian footballer Nikola Matić. The 18-year-old, who previously wore the jersey of German club Stuttgart, where he spent the last six years, has signed a two-year contract with the club from Rujevica, with an option to extend for an additional two years.
matić had been on Rijeka's sporting department's radar for some time, and his signing aligns with the club's strategy of bringing in young players from the Bundesliga. Following Yusuf Kabadayı, Matić is the second footballer to join Rijeka from the German league. Unlike Franjo Ivanović and Marco Pašalić, who played in lower German leagues before arriving at Rijeka, Matić did not make any senior appearances for Stuttgart.
He was born on June 23, 2008, in Bad Urach, Germany, and joined Stuttgart's academy in 2019. According to the German Football Association, he has made 41 appearances for Stuttgart's U-17 and U-19 teams in league and cup matches. Last season, he was part of the U-19 squad that won the German Youth Cup, playing four matches in that competition.
Rijeka's new player can play multiple positions on the right side, and he says where he feels most comfortable. "I do well on the right side, but my favorite position where I feel best is right wing," Matić told Kanal Ri.
The young footballer, born in 2008, has already shown some of his skills in a friendly match for the youth team, where he left a very good impression. His main attributes are explosiveness, speed, dueling, and runs into space, and he is also reliable in defense. Matić covers the entire right side, can play as a full-back or winger, and is particularly dangerous in one-on-one situations.
Matić previously played for the German U-16 national team, where he made three appearances, but then decided to play for Croatia. So far, he has worn the jerseys of Croatia's youth teams U-17, U-18, and U-19. Last season, he played for Croatia U-19 in qualifiers, including a match against England in late March. With Stuttgart's youth team, he also won the Youth Cup last season.
"I feel good, I'm very happy to have signed for Rijeka. I will give my best to justify my arrival and I look forward to the new opportunity," Matić stated.
It remains an open question whether the young international will immediately compete for a spot in the first team, play for the youth squad, or spend the season on loan. Development through one of Rijeka's partner clubs such as Mura, Opatija, Orijent, or Grobničan is also mentioned as an option. Given that Rijeka is thin on the wings, there is a possibility that Matić could get a chance in the senior squad.
"Now I want to take the next step, and that's why I'm in Rijeka. I think this is the ideal opportunity for development, and it's up to me to show what I can do. The goal, of course, is to one day play for the first team," Matić said.
