By Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor
Italian giant Juventus have finalised the signing of Serbian Filip Kostic from Eintracht Frankfurt according to emerging reports from Turin.
Kostic, who landed in Turin yesterday to undergo a medical, met with Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and other players in Continassa for familiarisation.
He then signed the contract after he completed his medical.
However, the 29-year-old, who plays as a left winger and joined Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, featured 129 times while scoring 18 goals before switching allegiance to the Old Lady.
The Old Lady last won the Serie A title three seasons ago, specifically in the 2019-2020 season, and have struggled to clinch further glory with Inter Milan and Milan evolving as the dominant force in the Italian league.
Last season, Juventus’ closest opportunity to clinch silverware having lost out on the Serie A title race, was obliterated by Nerazzurri who defeated them in the Supercoppa Italiana.
The Old Lady are ready to return to the glory days when they won the Serie A title four times consecutively spanning the 2014-2015 to 2017-2018 seasons.
Following the opening of the summer window, Bianconeri have swelled up their ranks with the signing of French midfielder Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa, centre-back Bremer from Torino, and Angel Di Maria from PSG before securing Filip Kostic from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, the newbie has sent a farewell message to Die Adler for the support he was given during his time at Deutsche Bank Park.
“Thank you Eintracht Frankfurt for believing in me when no one else did! I would like to thank the club, all the wonderful people who work there, the teammates, the coaches, the management, the fans and the whole city
for making my stay in Frankfurt unforgettable,” Kostic said.
“Eintracht fans, thank you for supporting us in every game. We gave everything for the colours of Eintracht Frankfurt, you in the stands and us on the pitch. Together we were able to write the history of the club by winning the Europa League.
“Thank you for all the love and support you gave me. We couldn’t have done it without you. I will carry you in my heart forever,” he added.
Reacting to the move, head coach Oliver Glasner lamented that it is weakening that such a good player, who won the UEFA Europa League trophy with club last season, has left the club.
“From a sporting point of view, the fact that we are losing such a player is clearly weakening,” Glasner told the media.
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“But I also [feel OK] because I know how the season started last year with Filip’s strike, where he didn’t play.
“We had a lot of talks then and he put himself 100 per cent at the service of the team. That’s when I said that he should leave the team as a hero for once. That’s what he’s doing now, he’s leaving Eintracht as a European Cup winner. As a hero who helped shape it.
“He was player of the season in the Europa League, which he deserves. I don’t begrudge him that from the bottom of my heart. From a sporting point of view, it’s a shame,” Die Adler boss added.
Glasner added that the Kostic’ scenario always happens annually in the club but it is saddening that he leaves Deutsche Bank Park as a hero.
He said, “We have had the Filip issue every year since he joined us. Of course it’s a shame, Filip has done a lot for this club. He leaves as a hero who played a big part in this team – but you have to be honest: That’s part of football.
“Players come and go. Today is the day an important player left. That is part of the game. We have a team that is capable of winning games and performing well without Filip. It’s a pity, but it’s nothing that will throw us off track,” Glasner added.
In a related development, Juventus Luca Pellegrini has switched to Eintracht Frankfurt to process a year loan deal. With this move, the left-back will play in the Bundesliga under coach Oliver Glasner and may make his debut on Saturday against Hertha Berlin.
Emphatically, Pellegrini’s move to the Bundesliga is not connected to the deal that brought Kostic to Allianz Stadium.
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