Two days ago, Aston Villa confirmed Lovre Kalinić will join Hajduk Split on loan when the transfer window reopens in Croatia on January 18th.
The temporary move will allow the keeper to return to the club where he made his first team debut after coming through their ranks.
Kalinić arrived at Villa Park from Genk in the winter 2019 market and featured for them in the first six months.
The Croatia international, however, hasn’t featured for the English club sine they climbed to the Premier League. He was allowed to spend the second half of last season on loan at Toulouse, and has been on the bench for two EFL Cup matches this term.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić included the Villa custodian in his squad for the friendly tie against Turkey in November.
Marjan Mrmić, the goalkeeping coach of the national team, had last month advised the 30-year-old to move away from Dean Smith’s side in the winter market.
“For Lovro, returning to Hajduk will mean a lot because he has not played for a long time. Ever since he came from Belgium to England, he has had very few chances to play for Aston Villa,” Mrmić told Sportske Novosti.
“He started playing, then he got injured, so he didn’t play… and then he went on loan to Toulouse where he only had a few games.
“For more than a year and a half he was practically not in serious competition. At the last gathering of the national team last month, I told him that it would be ideal for him to go somewhere to play.
“I know that the financial motive is always in the background, however, motivation to play should also be considered because Kalinic can still work on his affirmation.”
