Mirko Maric has brought an end to speculation linking him with a move to Rangers, joining Silvio Berlusconi’s Monza side instead in a £4 million deal, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
While Berlusconi and CEO Adriano Galliani might have been dreaming of a reunion with a certain Mr Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer, they will have to make do with one of the hottest strikers in Croatian football instead.
Maric is no Zlatan.
But, with 45 goals in 97 league games for Osijek and 22 last season, his signing still represents a major, major coup for a club of Monza’s stature.
The Boys only returned to the dizzying heights of Serie B after a 19-year absence last season but, bankrolled by Berlusconi and guided by his former Milan chief Galliani, Monza are dreaming, and spending, very big indeed.
Tuttomercatoweb claim that they have paid £4 million for Maric – a fee which is almost unheard of at Serie B level.
“I am very happy to be here at the court of Berlusconi and Galliani, whom I thank for their trust,” he says.
“I strongly believe in this project, and I believe there are the conditions to go to Serie A, one of the best leagues in the world and the dream for every player.
“I will show that the money spent on me has been well spent.”
As a result, we can put speculation linking the twice-capped Croatia international with Rangers on the backburner for at least another few months.
Sportske Novosti claimed last week that Rangers, who signed Borna Barisic and Eros Grezda from Osijek in 2018, were heading back to a familiar hunting ground.
But, with Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten arriving to boost Steven Gerrard’s forward line ahead of what feels like Alfredo Morelos’s inevitable departure, Rangers are well stocked in the striking department right now.
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