Rijeka general manager Vlado Cohar announces Ivan Vargic will join “great club” Lazio this summer.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper has been capped twice by Croatia, and has helped his side to second-place in the League, just two points behind Dinamo Zagreb.
“Having a goalkeeper in the national team has been one of the most important factors,” Cohar admitted to LaLazioSiamoNoi.
Rijeka general manager Vlado Cohar announces Ivan Vargic will join “great club” Lazio this summer.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper has been capped twice by Croatia, and has helped his side to second-place in the League, just two points behind Dinamo Zagreb.
“Having a goalkeeper in the national team has been one of the most important factors,” Cohar admitted to LaLazioSiamoNoi.
“Vargic, if I remember correctly, kept a clean sheet for 11 or 12 games in a row. But do you know what? It’s a pleasure for us to conclude a transfer like that.
“Of course, it’s a loss for our club, Ivan is a difficult goalkeeper to replace. We’re happy for them though, because he’s a really lovely lad.
“He was born in Djakovo, a town in Slavonia. It’s a problematic region of Croatia that underwent a lot of repercussions from the war in the 90s.
“Ivan is an exceptional person, he deserves a great future. The fans are very attached to him, their reaction makes me confident for his future. They’re all proud of this transfer.
“We’re not talking about a dissatisfied player, or one who has had problems with his own supporters. Our fans are aware that the lad is making a big step forward in his career.
“Lazio is a great club, they’ll never forget what [Alen] Boksic did for the Biancocelesti.
“Everything was done in 24 hours, our sporting director was in Milan, then went to Rome. He’ll be our starter until the end of the season, that’s the best thing about the transfer.
“Maybe with this agreement with Lazio he’ll be motivated to give even more for the team. All I’ll say is, Lazio are lucky to have got a lad and a goalkeeper like him.
“Every team would like to have someone with his mentality and character in their squad.”
Federico Marchetti is the current Lazio number one, will Vargic displace him? “I won’t get into that discussion. Lazio have a very good goalkeeper. I’m optimistic though, Vargic can continue to grow in Italy.
“I think it’ll be a good battle between the two…”