Sharbini & Mandzukic: McLeish Eyes Free-Scoring Croatian Duo for Birmingham
Reports in Croatia suggest Birmingham are closing in on Croatian duo Anas Sharbini and Mario Mandzukic in a double transfer coup. Here is our rundown on the two players.
Anas Sharbini: The ‘New Boban’
The latest Croat star to be linked with a move to the Premier League is 22-year-old Hadjuk Split midfield star Anas Sharbini. Celtic reportedly made a tentative enquiry last January and Liverpool were strongly linked in the Croatian press last summer but it is Birmingham who look set to sign the talented player. Sharbini moved to Hadjuk Split in the summer from Rijeka after scoring a hat-trick for his old club on the opening day of the season.
He has made 11 league appearances for the club (10 starts) and scored 3 goals, two of which were penalties. Hadjuk would like to keep him but Birmingham’s financial backing may be too much for the Croatian club to resist as they sit 7th in the division.
Sharbini’s talent was brought to public attention in the 2007/08 season after a superb campaign in which the attacking midfielder scored 11 goals in 28 League appearances (27 starts). This superb form led to a call up to the Croatian national squad as a reserve in case of injuries for Euro 2008. He’s yet to play for his country at full international level but recently earned a call-up after impressing in the U21 side.
The young star enjoyed another excellent season in 2008/09 with 14 League goals in 27 League appearances. Sharbini’s goal tally was only bettered by two other players last season. The talented star has started the 2009/10 season in sensational style with a hat-trick in the club’s opening league match and a further strike in their Europa League qualifying defeat to Ukrainian outfit Metalist before moving to Hadjuk Split.
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Sharbini is a technically gifted, quick, two-footed playmaker and could prove a bargain buy for Alex McLeish as he aims to add to the creativity of his Blues side. The former Rangers and Scotland manager is looking to strengthen his midfield options with more attacking players to build on an excellent first half to the season in which Birmingham have shown their organization and strength.
The Croatian star’s father was born in Damascus but moved to Rijeka in the 1980’s, therefore Sharbini could have opted for Syria at international level but instead chose the country of his and his mother’s birth. At 5 ft 11 he is not as lightweight as compatriot Luka Modric so may settle quicker in terms of the physical nature of British football. He is also renowned for his set-piece capabilities and has been tagged the ‘new Boban’ by the Croatian press which is high praise indeed. He would add a further goal threat to Birmingham’s midfield in which Lee Bowyer has enjoyed a superb run of form.
Mario Mandzukic: Croat Golden Boot Winner
Interest is growing in one of Croatia’s brightest young talents Mario Mandzukic this January. The Dinamo Zagreb striker was expected to move to Werder Bremen last summer but reports in the German and Croatian media suggest the deal has fallen through due to the player’s price-tag.
The player’s agent Ivan Cvjetkovic has confirmed that the player wants out. He told German newspaper Bild, “We have told Dinamo that Mario wants to leave the club.”
Interest in England and in particular Birmingham has been growing and the player revealed his ambition when he declared, “My goal is to join a strong club where I will continue to progress.”
Mandzukic finished as top goal scorer in the Croatian league last season following 16 goals in 28 league appearances (27 starts). This haul didn’t include any penalties and explains why he is so highly-rated in his homeland and now Europe. He has started this season in the same vein with 8 goals in 14 league appearances. The 23-year-old joined Dinamo in the summer of 2007 as a replacement for Arsenal bound Eduardo da Silva and has been a big success after scoring 35 goals in 71 league appearances (66 starts) for the current Croatian champions. He is seen as the ideal man to lead the Birmingham attack with his quality link-up player coupled with a great work-rate and physicality.
The 6 ft 1 striker was born in Slavonski Brod but started his career with German outfit Ditzingen before returning to his homeland to join NK Marsonia. Mandzukic did not feature in the first team before leaving to join NK Zagreb. In two seasons with the club, the tall striker scored 14 league goals in 51 appearances before Dinamo made their 1.3 million Euro move.
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Mandzukic finished last season in excellent form with 8 goals in his last 10 league appearances and has proven to be a huge success as Dinamo have won back to back league and cup doubles since he joined. Once again Dinamo top the division but with Alex McLeish ready to make his move, he is unlikely to remain at the club. Mandzukic is renowned as an excellent finisher who is sharp in the box and is now a regular member of the Croatian international squad.
The 23-year-old has only scored once in 10 international appearances and that goal came against England in the 4-1 home qualifying defeat back in September 2008. He’d been on the pitch just 6 minutes when he scored.
Man City were linked with the striker when Sven Goran Eriksson was in charge but it would seem that St Andrews’ will be the players next destination. He could prove to be the perfect foil for Christian Benitez in a typical big man, small man pairing but he is also capable of playing the lone striker role to good effect.
Do you like the look of Anas Sharbini and Mario Mandzukic? Are they the type of players Birmingham needs? Let’s hear our views.
Tags: Anas Sharbini, Birmingham, Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb, Hadjuk Split, Mario Mandzukic
