THE ‘Croatian Messi’ has joined a third-tier group in his hometown after his axe by Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Ante Coric, 26, was anticipated to turn into one in every of soccer’s high skills after bursting on to the scene as a teen.
Ante Coric was dubbed the ‘Croatian Messi’ however was launched by Roma this summer seasonCredit score: Silvia Lore/NurPhoto
He was wished by the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis in England whereas Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been additionally eager.
The Zagreb-born midfielder spent 4 years as an academy star at Purple Bull Salzburg earlier than returning to Croatia to hitch Dinamo Zagreb.
There, he was named in Gazzetta Dello Sport’s 2017 ’30 Greatest Beneath-20 Gamers in Europe’ and received 4 league titles, resulting in his Lionel Messi comparisons.
And he was even a part of the ultimate 23-man Croatia squad at Euro 2016.
However in 2018, Roma received the race to signal him, paying £5.2million to land the rising star on a five-year deal.
Nevertheless, Coric struggled to make the step up and managed simply three first-team appearances.
The playmaker then went on loans to Almeria, VVV-Venlo, Olimpija Ljubljana and Zurich.
And he was left unemployed in the summertime when his Roma contract expired with no extension supplied by Mourinho’s Serie A giants.
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However now the four-cap senior Croatia worldwide has discovered a brand new membership.
Coric put pen to paper with Kustosija, who play in Croatia’s Druga NL third tier.
The Zagreb-based outfit presently sit seventh within the desk and play at a stadium with a capability of simply 2,550 – a far cry from Roma’s iconic 70,000-seater Stadio Olimpico.
Coric made a reputation for himself at Dinamo Zagreb as a teenCredit score: Getty Photos – Getty
One among his three Roma appearances was within the Champions League towards compatriot Luka ModricCredit score: AFP or licensors