Sopić Brings in Former Hajduk Player

Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris, led from the bench by Željko Sopić, has made a double signing from the Croatian football scene ahead of their third qualifying round Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb. The club from Kaunas has brought in midfielder Anthony Kalik and striker Gabrijel Debeljuh, as announced on August 3, 2026.

A Decade at Poljud, Now Against Dinamo

The arrival of 28-year-old Kalik is particularly intriguing, as he spent a full decade at Hajduk Split, albeit with interruptions. The midfielder, holding both Australian and Croatian citizenship and a sporadic candidate for the Australian national team, boasts nearly 200 appearances in the top tier of Croatian football and 30 goals to his name.

"The green-and-white jersey will also be worn by this occasional Australian national team candidate and long-time Hajduk Split player," Kauno Žalgiris stated on their official website. Interestingly, during his career, while playing for Gorica and Hajduk, Kalik was coached by Lithuanian Valdas Dambrauskas, which may ease his transition to Lithuanian football.

Experienced Striker and Croatian Contingent

Alongside Kalik, the transfer of Gabrijel Debeljuh, a striker with extensive international experience gained in Romania, was announced on the same day. With their arrivals, Sopić now has several players with Croatian football passports in the dressing room, including Leon Kreković and Ivan Fiolić. Although Kalik's transfer was completed virtually on the eve of the Dinamo clash, there is a chance the coach could give him minutes against one of his former club's biggest rivals.

Dinamo Celebrates Record Membership

On the other side, Dinamo Zagreb has reasons for satisfaction off the pitch. The club announced on August 3, 2026, that last year's record of 65,243 members and friends of the club has already been surpassed. "We reached that number by August 3, 150 days earlier than last year, and with each day, each new member, that record will only grow and grow," the Blues posted on their official Twitter profile.

Radeljić's Debut and the Mladen Ramljak Tournament

Stjepan Radeljić completed his first full 90 minutes in the blue jersey on August 2, 2026, which the club also noted on social media alongside a photo of Luka Stanzl. Additionally, Dinamo has announced this year's edition of the Mladen Ramljak Tournament, set to take place from August 6 to 9. Alongside Dinamo's youth team, the prestigious tournament will feature Club Brugge, Juventus, Benfica, Ajax, Athletic Bilbao, Hajduk, and Bologna, with all matches available for streaming on the Dinamo Plus platform.