Remember Ivan Perisic? Signed as the ideal fullback for Antonio Conte, he had a bright start for Ange as a left winger before a serious and long-term injury derailed his season last year and caused him to virtually the whole season. Spurs allowed him to leave to return to his first club Hajduk Split in Croatia last January and he actually recovered enough to play for them a few times, which was cool.
Now, according to Croatian outlet Dalmatinski, he’s looking for another club after a falling out with… get this… new Split manager Gennaro Gattuso.
In comments to the press, Perisic confirms he’s a free agent and talks about how good he had it at Tottenham and how he returned to his hometown club because he wanted to win a title for Split and its fans.
“I came to Hajduk in the hope that together we will realise our dream and take the title. I had a good contract at Tottenham, and even when I was injured, I had an excellent offer from a big foreign club, where I would have fantastic conditions for rehabilitation and at least the same chance to play, as I had here.
“Instead, at the invitation of the club management and the fans, I chose a life without a family living abroad in the hope that I can help fight for the title and place in the group stage of the Champions League.
“Whatever condition I was in, at any moment, and even when I entered the game in the Cup match against Dinamo, beyond the recommendations of all doctors, risking an injury that would end my career, I did my best to achieve a common goal. From the first day until today, I have adhered to agreements, contracts, set rules, but also spoken words, and twice after the Euros I rejected offers from serious clubs to help [Split] this summer.
“Well, I guess it’s clear to everyone that I didn’t choose Hajduk and Split because of money or healthcare. In my desire to help, I put my health and my family on the back burner many times and I don’t regret it because I don’t know any other way, but on Sunday evening someone else stepped forward and decided that he no longer needed my help.
“As for last season, unfortunately, we failed. As hard as failure feels to me as it does to all the guys and all the fans who have been waiting for the title for almost 20 years, failure is the same part of football. Since I’m comfortable in my skin, I have been looking at Hajduk as something big and I will behave [professionally] in a moment that is extremely difficult for me and my family. I wish the club all the luck, victory on Thursday, placement in Europe and winning the title, regardless of whoever is at the club.”
The article goes on to say that Perisic had a conversation with Ange Postecoglou about his injury, role in the team and his wishes going forward before leaving the club, but Gattuso apparently didn’t even bother to speak with him before cutting him loose. It also reveals that he turned down a move to Sevilla this summer in order to stay at Split and help them try and win the title.
Perisic’s comments are, to be fair, pretty measured and the article states that they tried really hard to get the juicy stuff from Ivan, and he refused to go low. But reading between the lines his comments are still almost dripping with disdain, and while I feel bad for Ivan, I gotta say it’s sort of grimly ironic (and not at all surprising) that this is happening because of an interpersonal conflict with Gennaro Gattuso. The guy has a long history of pissing people off and burning bridges (as well as blatant misogyny and homophobia) and it continually pisses me off to this day how close Spurs actually came to appointing that guy as our manager after sacking Jose Mourinho. Managers get to make whatever decisions they think is in the best interest of the team, but it sure sounds like Gattuso made his decisions in the most assholeish way possible.
What a dick. I hope Perisic signs somewhere cool, and Genarro Gattuso steps on a LEGO.
