Kaliningrad: Croatian striker Nicola Kalinic has been sent home from the squad in disgrace after he refused to follow coach Zlatko Dalic’s order and take the pitch as a substitute during his team’s 2-0 victory over Nigeria here, Saturday. The matter came to light Monday after the player was found missing from the training session Sunday.
According to a report in the English newspaper ‘Daily Mail’, the striker, when asked by the coach to replace Mario Mandzukic refused to do so citing ‘back problem’ in the closing stages of the game. The report said that Kalinic had not liked being benched for the fourth successive game and showed his displeasure by refusing to follow the coach’s orders.
Dalic told Croatian media after the training session Sunday that there were no injury worries for the team, but that there was a ‘slight problem’ within the team. He informed that he had not been convinced by the explanation put up by Kalinic and had decided to send him home. Kalinic’s exit has since exposed Croatia’s lack of attacking options, with Mandzukic the only out-and-out striker available in their squad.
However, the coach has remained adamant. “Discipline is something which I don’t compromise on,” he has been quoted as saying by the Croatian media according to the ‘Daily Mail’.
The latest development may hurt Kalinic’s prospective move to Sevilla from AC Milan during the transfer season at a fee of 17.5 million pounds.
