Croatian footballer Marcelo Brozovic is now sporting Al-Nassr's yellow jersey, having signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Pro League club. The 30-year-old midfielder's move from Italian giant Inter Milan was officially announced on Monday. While the financial specifics of the deal are yet to be revealed, reports from Italian media speculate the transfer fee to be around €18 million ($19.63 million).
In a celebratory tweet, Al-Nassr jubilantly announced, "Everyone wanted him. He wanted ONLY us. #BrozovićIsYellow." Echoing this sentiment, Brozovic confirmed his excitement about the transition, stating, "Don't worry I'm here. I choose AL-Nassr."
After joining Inter in 2015 from Dinamo Zagreb, Brozovic contributed significantly to the team's successes, including their Serie A triumph in the 2020-21 season and securing two Italian Cup trophies. He also played in the Champions League final against Manchester City last season, though the Italian side unfortunately fell short.
The move to Al-Nassr came after a tumultuous week of negotiations between the player, Inter, and Al-Nassr, with twists and turns involving a fluctuating transfer fee and a last-minute severance pay demand from Brozovic. Despite a brief period when Brozovic seemed inclined towards Barcelona's advances, he eventually gave the green light to his move to Saudi Arabia.
Brozovic's decision to join Al-Nassr follows a growing trend of Europe-based players choosing Saudi Arabian clubs as their new professional homes. The Saudi Pro League's appeal has grown significantly since Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Manchester United star, signed with Al-Nassr last January.
Moreover, last month's announcement of a Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has further added to the allure. The project involves league champions Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Hilal, each 75% owned by PIF, with the remaining 25% held by their respective non-profit foundations.
Throughout his tenure with Inter Milan, Brozovic tallied 330 appearances and netted 31 goals. Now as part of Al-Nassr, he will join a roster that includes other European talents like former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, ex-Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, and others. As the new season unfolds, fans will be watching with bated breath to see how this Croatian star will impact his new team.
