The January Transfer window is going on as clubs are doing everything needful to make their squad more strong. Current Serie A leaders AC Milan are also in the list, as out of nowhere, They have confirmed the deal of Mario Mandzukic to AC Milan. Milan has been searching for a back-up striker to Ibrahimovic and has finally got their desired player. The club has confirmed it on their official website as well as on social media.
Mario Mandzukic to AC Milan: Contract details
Mario Mandzukic will join AC Milan as a free agent. He is going to sign a six-month contract with an option to extend till 2022. Stefano Pioli is very much hopeful regarding the Croatian.
Mario Mandzukic: Playing career at a glance
Early Career
Mandzukic started to play football on the season of 1996/97 at Ditizingen Youth Academy. From there, He joined his local Club Marsonia’s Under-19 team. But, He was loaned out to another Croatian Club of Zeljeznicar SB. He did not get any oppurtunity to play at the senior team and was again back to Marsonia.
NK Zagreb: First Senior appearance
Mandzukic joined NK Zagreb from Marsonia on a free transfer on the season of 2005/06. He played his first senior club match with this club. He played 25 matches at Zagreb and scored 11 goals and provided 1 assist. He performed extremly well, beyond expectations. This performance attracted the attention of the big clubs in Croatia and finally one of the biggest club of Croatia FC Dinamo Zagreb signed him for about 1 Million pounds.
Dinamo Zagreb
Mandzukic joined Zagreb on the season of 2007/08. He made himself more skilful with the team. Mandzukic won the first silverware of his career, The Croatian League with Dinamo Zagreb on his first season with the Club. Mandzukic became a beast at the club. He won another 2 league titles and 2 Croatian Cup titles. He played there for 3 Seasons. Mandzukic scored 53 Goals and provided 35 assists. His performance gave him an opportunity to play at one of the top leagues of the World, Bundesliga as Wolfsburg signed him for about 6.3 Million Pounds.
Wolfsburg
Mandzukic joined Wolfsburg on the season of 2010/11. He continued his form made himself a complete forward. He played 60 Matches at Wolfsburg scored 20 goals and provided 12 assists. At the End of season 2012/13, He got the chance to join the big boys of Bundesliga, FC Bayern Munchen for about 11.70 Million Pounds.
FC Bayern Munchen
Jupp Heynckes signed Mandzukic, expecting something big from the Croatian. He had not played many days at Bayern but performed brilliantly. He scored a total of 48 goals for Bayern in only 88 matches and provided 14 assists. He won the Treble with Bayern at his first season with the club. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup on the season of 2012/13. He won another Bundesliga and German Cup with Bayern in the following year. Jupp Heynckes praised him and said that he was responsible that Mandzukic did not finish as the top scorer in the League and the UEFA Champions League.
“I have taken away from him the top scorer in the Bundesliga [by picking him for the DFB-Pokal and Champions League],” Heynckes told the club’s official website. He accepted and I think that’s great. He has a very good professional attitude. He is a brilliant player.”
– Jupp Heynckes, Bayern Munchen manager
Atletico Madrid
Mandzukic joined the Spanish Club Atletico Madrid on the season of 2014/15 for about 19 Million Pounds. He stayed there, just for one season. Mandzukic won the Spanish Super Cup with Atletico. He played a total of 43 matches for Atletico, scored 20 times and provided 5 assists. He joined Juventus next season for about 17 Million Pounds.
Juventus
Mandzukic joined the Turin club on the season of 2015/16. He played the most number of club matches with Juventus. He played very well for ‘The Old Lady’. He won 4 straight Italian Championships, 3 Italian Cup and 2 Italian Super Cup with Juventus. He played a total of 162 matches for Juventus, scored 44 goals and provided 17 matches. Though his form was dropping day by day at the end of his contract at Juventus and finally he joined Qatar’s Club Al-Duhali on season 2019/20.
Al-Duhali
He joined Al-Duhali FC on season 2019/20. He won Qatar League there. He played just 7 matches for the club and scored a single goal.
AC Milan: Other Transfer targets
AC Milan is currently working not only on Incomings but also outgoings. Milan is very close to signing Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori on a loan deal. Also, Milan’s Andrea Conte may join another Serie A Club Parma soon.
Mandzukic to AC Milan: What can he offer for the Rossoneri?
Stefano Pioli was looking for a striker as It is not confirmed that if Ibrahimovic will extend his contract or not. And also Ibra suffering for injury. So an experienced Striker like Mandzukic can fulfil his drought and can offer something big for the team. Though he has to work hard to make an impact like Ibrahimovic.
Milan is currently at top of the Serie A table after many years. They have lost just one and showing consistency. Fans can expect the new additions will make the team stronger and can help the Rossoneri to lift the title once again.
EURO 2020 is just around the corner, Read our exclusive coverage of the journey to EURO 2020 as we build the hype and relive the glories from previous EUROs.
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