Even if you’re a big Chelsea fan, you might be forgiven if you didn’t know who Stipe Perica was, considering the striker never actually played for the club.
Bought from NK Zadar in 2013 at 18 years of age for £2m, the striker was sent on loan 18 days later to NAC Breda for one and a half seasons followed by a six-month spell at Udinese, who eventually bought him outright for £3.4m.
A nifty £1.4m profit for very little work on Chelsea’s side of things, yet his brief time at the club left such an impression on the now 21-year-old that he dreams of returning to Stamford Bridge one day.
He said: “I don’t regret anything. Even though I haven’t played for Chelsea, I am proud to have been part of one of the best organised clubs in the world and I will give anything to return one day.”
This, if he impresses enough, shouldn’t be too difficult, as the player explained in the interview Chelsea have a ‘right of first refusal’ if he ever decides to leave Udinese.
Still in touch with the club, who keep an eye on his performances, Perica also keeps in contact with some of his former Chelsea teammates.
He said: “I got to know Nemanja Matic and his brother Uros (at NAC Breda). We are still in touch, as is the case with Branislav Ivanovic. What those guys did for me, I’ll never forget. Nemanja still takes care of me, like my agent.”
The 21-year-old also revealed Nemanja Matic gave him his shirt from the 6-0 win against Arsenal, while Miralem Pjanic gave him his jersey when Perica scored against Roma.
The best player in Serie A in his eyes, though? Gonzalo Higuain.
If he even comes close to matching the achievements of the Argentinean striker, a return to Chelsea might not be too unrealistic.
