Socceroos playmaker Ajdin Hrustic has completed a reported $735,000 move to Italian club Hellas Verona from German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt as he seeks game time ahead of this year’s World Cup.
The 26-year-old midfielder hasn’t featured at all for Europa League champions Eintracht in the opening weeks of the Bundesliga season, and it’s a non-playing situation he can ill-afford with the World Cup starting in Qatar on November 20.
Hrustic flew to Italy this week for his medical, and has now penned a four-year deal with Hellas Verona, who are in 16th spot on the Serie A ladder and without a win four games into the season.
The initial transfer fee could reportedly escalate up to $4.4 million with add-ons.
Hrustic – who made 40 appearances in all competitions for Eintracht – is being regarded at Verona as a replacement for Czech midfielder Antonin Barak, who has left the club to join Serie A rivals Fiorentina.
He is the latest high-profile Socceroo to switch clubs for more match minutes after national team captain and goalkeeper Mat Ryan last month moved to Danish side FC Copenhagen from Spanish team Real Sociedad.
Ryan’s move came just weeks after Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy joined Scottish giants Celtic after parting ways with Chinese club Shanghai Port.
