Ivan Mocinic pens Hütteldorf deal!
The search for a new "number 6" has reached a successful conclusion! SK Rapid has reached an agreement with HNK Rijeka for the transfer of 23 year-old midfielder Ivan Mocinic. Croatian Mocinic, who has already represented his nation at youth level and made his debut for the Croatian A national team (he featured in the starting eleven in a 3:1 away victory against Russia), has signed a contract tying him to the Green & Whites until the end of the 2019/20 season!
Sporting Director Andreas Müller commented: "We've been watching Ivan Mocinic for months now and are absolutely convinced that he has the necessary qualities. He represents one of the brightest prospects of a great footballing nation in Croatia in the defensive midfield role. He performs this role with no little creativity. He’s not only strong defensively but also contributes to transitioning play and attacking. Only injury prevented him from taking part in the World Cup in 2014 and he has very good chances with us to re-establish himself in the circles of the Croatian senior team. The negotiations with Rijeka were hard but fair, and therefore I’m even more delighted that we could secure the services of such a talented player on a four-year contract with no release clauses."
Trainer Mike Büskens was equally delighted with the new capture: "It's extremely pleasing that a player such as Ivan Mocinic made it absolute clear that his desire was to move to Rapid. With his arrival the quality of the squad is improved, particularly in defensive midfield where we already have the likes of Srdjan Grahovac and Stefan Schwab, two established players, as well as Philipp Malicsek - currently representing Austria at the U-19 Euros – who is looking to stake a claim for first team football."
Ivan Mocinic will be joining up with his new team mates in the coming week, and will be formally introduced to the media alongside Arnor Ingvi Traustason at the press conference ahead of the first Bundesliga match of the season.
Welcome to Rapid!
(gw)