It was all set in stone earlier in the week. Broz would be leaving Inter Milan to join Ronaldo, Al Nassr, and a $100 million payday in Saudi Arabia. However, talks have stalled in the past 72 hours. As of Saturday morning, it appears Broz will be heading to Al Nassr after all. Was Broz just messing around or did Al Nassr end up low-balling Inter?
SempreInter has reported the back and forth between Inter Milan and Al Nassr all week with tiny rumblings that Barcelona could still be interested in the 30 year-old Brozović, who was Serie A’s ‘Midfielder of the Year’ in 2022. It appears Inter and the Saudi Pro League are negotiating over a difference of $7 million for Broz. Originally, his price tag was 20M. It went down to 13-14. Now the move looks to be finalized in the 17-18 range. It has been reported that all contract stipulations have already been met between Broz and Al Nassr.
$100 million dollars over the next 3 seasons. That is generational money and hard to turn down. However, for his footballing future, will Broz be able to stay sharp in the Saudi league with EURO 2024 11 months away?
Good move? Bad move? Or will it not matter in the long run for the national squad? I personally think Broz will stay fresh over the next year as long as he stays injury-free. He battled injuries after the 2022 World Cup but came back strong for Inter and Croatia during Champions League and Nations League over the past month.
In other news, Majer is being looked at by Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. This could be a tricky move to the Bundesliga as Majer had a lackluster season in France this past season.
I’m soo happy for Brozovic!!! He worked hard and played well. Now it’s time for him to cash in his chips!!!
100 million for 3 years to play soccer !!!!
That’s unbelievable! I think it’s funny he has like a fake spray tan on his face in the picture above with the Saudi jersey?
Brozovic is rich !!!! ? He’s made!!!
He did it!!!
RE: Champions League Qualifiers
UCL preliminary qualifiers are starting this month. This year Dinamo start their qualifying campaign in the 2nd round. If they progress they move onto the 3rd round, then a playoff round. Dinamo’s club coefficient is 55000, but all of the teams that are starting in the 3rd or playoff round have much lower coefficients, so i’m very confused. I looked up the teams that qualified directly to the group stage, and was surprised to see red star belgrade in there (club co 42000). Is their league that far ahead? What am i missing here? Is Dinamo being punished because all of our other teams have been tanking in European competition?
The round that clubs enter into CL qualifying is 100% based on the country NOT the club coefficient. A club’s seeding in the round that they enter is based on the club’s NOT the country coefficient.
So – Dinamo are entering in R2 because Croatia’s coefficient is terrible and because Serbia have 2 consistent teams in CZ and Partizan, their coefficient is actually really good.
Thanks for the info. Hopefully our clubs can start doing better in European competition.
Definitely – can’t have Osijek and Hajduk losing to random teams from Kazakhstan if we want to improve the coefficient – really need Hajduk to qualify for the Conference League Group Stage, but will be tough as their coefficient is low and will be unseeded for the final 2 qualifying rounds.
Is there income tax there? If it’s 100 million net it is a huge amount indeed.
Depends where he resides.
If his residence is Zagreb, then the Croatian government can tax his income despite it not coming from Croatia (but we would have to read up on the laws about that).
I’m sure Brozovic is buying a house in Montecarlo and setting up his residence there, just like all those tennis stars do in order to avoid being taxed.
No way anyone can criticize Broz for for not turning this down. Seems he handled it as well as possible. 20 mil a year wasn’t enough, so he didn’t jump right away at just a little more money. But he did have a price (as all of us prob do I think). 100 million after 3 years? That’s insane.
Comparison to Modric is not fair by the way. Modrić himself had much higher yearly salary totals before this year. Plus Modric probably has had alot more in advertisement income too. So for Broz, this would have a proportionally higher impact on his long-term future than it would on Modrić. What can you do, that’s ridiculous money and I understand why it would be very hard to walk away.
Can stimac bring India to the promised land in 2026?!
Is he doing well with them or something?
A quick google shows that their most recent match was a 1-1 draw with 160th-ranked Afghanistan, and India didn’t even score (as it was an own goal).
Just checked Wiki…
They are the 18th ranked team in AFC, just behind Kyrgyzstan and Palestine.
The 2026 qualifiers haven’t started, but they are unseeded for that draw.
Last World Cup, they finished with a 1W 4D 3L record in the preliminary round, finishing third with 7 points (Qatar was first in the group with 22 points, and Oman in second with 18 points).
Igor Stimac is a bigger disaster in India than he was with our National Team ha ha.
Actually Stimac has done really well in India and has been really warmly taken in by the fans because of the passion that he’s shown. He’s in the news right now because India are in the final of the South Asian Championship – which is an achievement for them – and he got sent off in 2 of their 3 group stage games and is now banned for the final……so definitely some passion but probably too much.
I’m guessing that the South Asian Championship is too recent for Wikipedia, but if you google him, you’ll see that Stimac is getting a ton of love from India fans
Remember when ziva used to call livaja as look at me livaja cause of the tattoos
What about broz. He’s got one even on his neck
Are his not as bad cause he had a more successful career?
And let’s not get into super striker hnl vs a guy who has been a staple at inter for years
Tho I guess one could debate the tatted treasures careers
I think it will be ok. As the best DMF in the world, he deserves a payday. I don’t want to speak for anyone or force an opinion into anyone’s mouth, but I feel the letdown is seeing Brozovic not command the midfield in yet another league. I personally feel he’s under appreciated for being Croatian. If he was Italian, Spanish, Brazilian, he’d have a higher dollar amount or more serious talks with the transfer to another top flight place.
We just all need to wait and see. I personally am happy he at least will have a nice payday for a year until he decides the next move.
On another note, where I live we got severe weather today. It knocked out the satellite service. I watched the Brazil World Cup game.
I mentioned this before, but I firmly believe the reason why Petkovic scored was because Ante Budimir was brought on and Brazil had to deal with a tall, fresh striker to defend against.
When you watch, Orsic had a clear lane to pass to Petkovic, and Petkovic took the strike and got it to the back of the net with the help of a deflection. What you also see to the right of Petkovic is Budimir running straight to the net and pulling the Brazilian player with him, and it looked like another Brazilian going to the right as well. That gave Petkovic open space with no one covering him and he was able to strike with his heavy boot; which I also believe was why the deflection went in because he was able to get all the mustard on it.
I enjoy this site, I enjoy the people, and I enjoy the conversation. I wake up every morning being happy I’m Croatian, and happier I get to share it with other people.
I forgot to add to the end, I don’t understand why we couldn’t do something like this against Spain. Yes we were losing with Brazil, but a risk was taken that paid off. We have chatted about the Spain game in length. And penalties are all about luck. I’m still sore over the Nations League. We needed Orsic. Let’s get to it with the Euros!
Saudi Arabia has strict smoking and alcohol laws.
Broz will get kicked out of the country within one year of his new contract.
Marcelo slušaj ? ….
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qo_i5MfJoUc
Like Eric and perhaps a few others here, I’m absolutely gutted by Brozo’s move to S.Arabia. 🙁
I know huge sums of money are almost impossible to reject, but how I wish he could have followed Modric in choosing sporting excellence over oil riches. I mean, Broz is still in his prime and he already wants to cash in? And I don’t understand how did relations between him and Inter turn so sour to the extent the club can’t seem to wait to get rid of him.
Sorry to lack original thought but regarding the fallout of Brozo’s transfer on the National Team, I agree with every word of Maminjo’s post below (no way I can put it better than him). For the next year leading up to Euro2024, I expect Broz will still be pretty sharp and continue to play like a boss for us but his form in the cycle leading up to WC2026 is going to become a BIG question mark. Having gotten used to a lower level of football in S.Arabia for a prolonged period, there is no way I can see his playing level stay at the current high level, not to mention he will be in the 32 to 33-years-old age range by then. Bear in mind that by then Modric will most likely be gone. Our midfield might become a bit of a worry.
I pray Broz will decide to return to Europe by next summer. Sigh 🙁
Just read another negative development which I hope isn’t true… rumor has it that New York City FC is in talks with Rijeka to get Frigan. It’s bad enough that Biuk has gone to MLS and now this. We simply cannot afford to send Frigan stateside given how dire our situation is in the striker department. Imo, the best thing for Frigan’s career at this moment is to remain at Rijeka. I’m not even sure he can make the grade at Dinamo to be honest.
I was really hoping Broz would move to Barca.
Hopefully the move for Majer can help him increase his output, he had rough season this past season.
@Dannyj:
[“Ya like I said on another post
Sigur Born in Burnaby, British Columbia Same as me and I’m sure some others here
Poglavnik I think was another one
Poglavnik, There’s a name I haven’t seen forever?!
I think he will stick with cro if he thinks he has a good shot
Someone said sigur has played rb at Hajduk but it’s not his natural spot
What is it? Obviously rb will be tough to crack for us”]
– Yeah I read your other post where you said Sigur hails from Burnaby, just like the great Joe Sakic!
Methinks Sigur’s got a shot at representing the senior team one day as his natural position is DM, where we currently don’t have a clear successor to Brozo.
I really don’t recall anyone from the North America dijaspora represent Vatreni… if Sigur suits up for the senior team one day, that would certainly be a point of pride for you 🙂
Oh yah, regarding Poglavnik, I haven’t seen his post here in ages, definitely not this year.
I’m from North Burnaby…so is Niko Sigurs mom…she went to Burnaby North Highschool. His dad is from North Van…we played several years for Croatia A in Vancouver. Funny enough, Niko Sigurs dad (Tony) played right back..although Tony was shorter and played extremely aggressively ? while Niko has a few more tools in his bag!
Slavonac I went to Alpha down the street and played hockey at Burnaby minor. Same rink sakic honed his legendary skills
Now I’m in Kamloops
But ya would be amazing a Croat from Burnaby played for the repka.
Truly amazing
Let’s see play for Canada and that idiot coach with a Serb goalie or play for the sacred checkers
Forget about it!!
I also went to Alpha and graduated from that school!!
BTW- wayyyyy back when I was in highschool I once played ball hockey against Joe Sakic in a game mixed with Alpha and North friends! Remember those tennis courts on Hastings…on the way towards Barney HWY…we played in there. He was really quiet and I didn’t know he was gonna be the “Joe Sakic” we all know today.
With regards to Sigur…let me just say the kid is extremely modest and lives a professional athlete life. All my friends kids tell me he’s the type that won’t drink alcohol or do anything that can affect his health…and he’s really a #6, not a right back so this means he’s versatile! If he keeps going on this path I think he could eventually play for Croatia National team and I don’t think it would be a fluke…the kid is very solid, he continues to learn and he has stepped in at Hajduk and done a fabulous job!
That’s awesome stories
Ya I’ve said this before on here but I had a couple coaches that saw sakic grow up
They said the same he wasn’t even that good when young
Like of course he was good but he apparently was on the ice anytime and just practice practice practice like Iverson;)
Maybe it’s that late maturing Croat thing;)
His dad used to come watch a bunch of our games as he was kum to another kid on my team for a couple of years
Anyways, super to hear Sigur is clean. That as we all know increases ones chances exponentially as a young athlete
Another versatile kid
We have stanisic, him potentially and even Jakic still I’m sure on the radar All seem to be able to play on defence or defensive mid
Maybe Sigur will make the bundesliga move when he makes one too
I wish the kid nothing but good fortune
Maybe he will read our Burnaby posts and give us a shout out one day when he makes the repka;)
Surprised to hear that Sigur is clean too.
Being from Vancouver, I’d figure he was on a strict fentanyl regimen.
🙂
To start, I must say that I love Broz. His insane work ethic, and skills are unmatched. However, this move has me devastated. I always assumed life after Modrić would be tough, but Brozo was always going to be the stability that we needed for the transition. Now I am very worried. Yes, Broz will still be great for the next year or two, but now I doubt that we can count on him long-term. Fuck I’m so disappointed.
5 beers are a warm up.
FYI, had 5 beers as I posted, excuse lack of proof reading.
All for older footaballers joining retirement leagues. Let’s be realistic, Broz doesn’t need more competition to hone his skills.
He’s hit the ceiling and now a league that has less impact on the bolds well for the national team.
I had a conversation with two Englishmen in their 60’s back in 1998 on why England falls short all the time.
Their answer was the greed of the FA, to much damn football was hurting their national team. At that time they had the league, FA Cup and Milk Cup which was introduced in the 70’s, I believe.
On top of that the EPL plays 38 games as opposed to 34, an extra month of Football. So they predicted burn out for Micheal Owen and Rooney back in the day before major injuries.
So remember this is good thing, competitive leagues are not required after your skill set is maxed, rest or as Kawhi Leonard used to call it, LOAD Management fir the WIN.
Good move financially, but probably a bad move for us.
For Euro2024, this may be a good thing. His skills won’t diminish in one season of football, and he’ll probably be more fresh and injury free for the Euros (unlike in this past World Cup where he was obviously still recovering).
But this will likely hurt us for World Cup 2026, especially since I expected him to lead our midfield then.
He will be three years into that contract, and possibly checked out in terms of his career (especially with nothing to play for other than money and meaningless Saudi league trophies).
But you never know. I could also see him hating it in Saudi Arabia, and requesting a transfer after one season.
Ya I feel he won’t make the three years
For sure the money is good but dudes still a competitor
For sure I think it will help him to stay hungry for the repka and ya his skill set is his skill set
But no doubt he doesn’t have to be as good playing in Saudi
Who knows tho maybe he can mess around more and play more offence and try some stuff
I would have loved to see him in Barca for a couple of years then go cash in
But hey, make hay when the sun shines
The gap in salary is huge.
Barca offering 7 million and Saudis offering 33.3 million.
Glad to see he cashed out, and I hope he does something good with that money that will benefit both Croatia and his family.
Tattoos and smokes for everyone!!