Official: Fiorentina buy Hrvoje Milic

Although the Vedran Corluka deal has officially fallen through--he's renewed his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow instead--Fiorentina have still managed to sign a Croatian international defender today; it's leftback Hrvoje Milic, who joins from Hajduk Split for a fee believed to be less than €1 million, and his salary shouldn't tip in at more than an affordable €200,000. He'll have to choose a new number, as Ianis Hagi has taken his preferred 19, so we may get a new number 3 or number 6.

While Milic certainly doesn't look like a starter, he should settle in as a decent backup for Marcos Alonso. He's spent his career in Croatia, Sweden, and Russia, so he's well traveled and should be well-suited to Europa competition, as well as opponents in the lower half of the Serie A table. As a replacement for the dearly departed Manuel Pasqual (we shall never see his like again), he's less likely to spam in crosses and a bit more defensively capable, but probably more or less a lateral move in terms of quality viz Manny last year. He's also got 6 caps for Croatia, fighting against Marin Leovac and Josip Pivaric for a backup role behind Napoli defender Ivan Strinic.

While this is hardly the most exciting signing Corvino's ever made, Milic should at least be useful option off the bench. Paulo Sousa could use him as a defensive option off the bench to protect a lead, as he's played out on the wing as well as in the backline. It's also worth noting that Milic's teammate Josip Maganjic, the teenaged striker who's so impressed anyone watching Croatian youth league and international matches, wasn't part of the deal; Corvino is probably still working on a deal for the "new Kalinic" separately. Regardless, though, welcome Hrvoje. May you be another Croatian steal for this club.