The new season’s reinforcements have arrived at Gradski Vrt, namely the 20-year old Petar Bokcaj from Lokomotiva, Robert Mudradzija from Salzburg and the experienced 28-year old Tomislav Sorsa, returning from Cluj. Bockaj and Muradzija signed a 4-year contract, while Sorsa accepted a 2+1-year deal. Alen Petrovic made statements to the press:
- Bockaj and Mudrazija were in younger national teams and definetly have quality and potential, while Sorsa needs no introduction, since he was our captain and is known among fans. All of them are flexible in terms of positions and we could soon be having additional new faces because we are in negotiations with multiple people. Therefore, news will arrive immediately after these ones. Eros Grezda became our new member, but he is currently playing for Albania in terms of national play.
A whole new NK Osijek
Tomo Sorsa has returned after having played for Romanian first league team Cluj. He immediately accepted the invitation to Osijek.
- I have spent a whole year in Romania, saw how things go there and decided to return because Cluj had a change of leadership. They changed the coach, along with bringing in many unknown players, which is quite chaotic in my opinion. I decided to return after having received Osijek’s invitation. I won’t have issues with acclimation since I already know many of the players and having played against them in the HNL. I’m aware of the fact that I am to bring my A-game, as is expected of the team as a whole. I can promise that I will give it my all during training and matches. Concerning the current state of Osijek compared to when I fought against them, things are incomparable as of now. I felt how it was to have played outside of Croatia and I can tell you that many underestimate the HNL undeservingly so, especially when I believe that we are stronger than the Romanian league.
Mudrazija excited for the fans
Robert Mudrazija, having once been Zagreb’s hope, found himself on Red Bull Salzburg’s radar. He entered the Austrian team, got borrowed into Liefering, and now finds himself in NK Osijek.
- This is a beautiful football story, which impressed me as soon as I had arrived at Gradski Vrt. I hope that I will contribute well and that Osijek will make leaps forward, in comparison to last year’s season. I was tempered by the “blacksmiths” at Red Bull, working hard and now I’m here to show my worth. Osijek is a true challenge coming to the HNL and I want to show what I’ve got. I hadn’t had the opportunity to experience a truly good fan atmosphere in Zagreb, nor in Liefering. Gradski Vrt is truly different in comparison to my previous teams and I am happy to play in front of Kohorta. I can play any position in the midfield, but I gravitate towards the forward positions, so I see myself in these positions since I’m quite comfortable with them. I believe that there will be scores and assists from my part.
Bockaj picks Osijek, not Rijeka
The young Croatian U-21 national team player, Petar Bockaj, was in Rijeka’s sights, being already touted as theirs by particular news outlets, but he lastly chose Gradski Vrt:
- I am very happy to have arrived in Osijek. I thank all of those who rooted for me and insisted on my coming to Slavonia. We made a quick deal and I’m happy about it. Rijeka? Yes, I know that they found interest in me, but Osijek has been correct and concrete so that I haven’t had any second thoughts. We can all see the changes that this club underwent and I’m happy to be playing in Europe again. Last season, I had that chance in Lokomotiva and now I hope on making it big with Osijek. I’m a leftie whom coaches like to position on the right, more or less offensively, however they prefer. I don't really care where I play, I must train hard and be of use to the team. I have come to an ambitious collective and I believe that everything will unfold according to the club's and my own wishes, hoping that they will overlap.
