Chelsea have beaten off competition from Arsenal and Manchester United to land Croatian youngster Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.
The 19-year-old has officially put pen-to-paper today after the two clubs agreed a transfer for an undisclosed fee, and he is set to join in with Jose Mourinho’s pre-season training camp as of today.
Pasalic is a centre midfielder and he is labelled as the ‘new Luka Modric’ in his home-country, and after Mourinho admitted that he was a big fan of the Real Madrid star, a long-term contract has been offered and signed by the Croatian youngster.
The teenager was a shock inclusion in Croatia’s 30-man World Cup provisional squad, but he didn’t make the final 23 which went to Brazil.
Pasalic has already commented on making the move to Stamford Bridge, and he is hopeful that he can live up to his idol, Frank Lampard.
He said: “I am very happy because I am now a Chelsea player. I am very impressed by the training ground and I must thank everybody at Hajduk. This is now a new start in my career.
“I am a central midfielder, my favourite player is Frank Lampard, and so I am very happy to be a Chelsea player.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles
