Will Simic return to Italy? Sassuolo is interested in the Czech stopper

Twenty-six-year-old Stefan Simic could return to the Apennine Peninsula after two years. The Hajduk Split defender is being courted by coach Alessio Dionisi, who has become Sassuolo’s new coach. Will Simic return to Italy and finally make it in Serie A?

At the age of 16, Simic left his parent club Slavia and transferred from Italian side Genoa. In the port city he played for the youth teams, where he immediately managed to establish himself and drew attention with his performances.

This did not escape the famous AC Milan, who wanted to bring Simic into their ranks, and the Rossoneri succeeded too. The Czech defender left Genoa after a year and a half, and was heading towards San Siro.

There, even more and better competition awaited him than at Genoa. It was clear from the start that the road to the first team would be very difficult. The management of the Milan club decided to send Simic on several guest appearances to get a regular playing load and adapt to adult football.

The skilful defender had guest spells on the Apennine peninsula at Varese, Crotone and Frosinone. He also played one season for Belgian side Mouscron, where he was one of the team’s key players and helped to save the Belgian elite.

Simic was only given the opportunity to play a competitive match for AC Milan once. He played in a Europa League match against Luxembourg’s Dudelange, where he contributed to a 5-2 win.

The Czech stopper did not want to go on another loan spell and decided to leave AC Milan in the summer of 2019. He agreed a deal with Croatian side Hajduk Split.

In two seasons at Hajduk, Simic appeared in 45 matches, in which he enjoyed two goals scored. The former Slavia defender has already attracted several suitors with his performances.

The most serious is coach Alessio Dionisi, who will lead Italian side Sassuolo from the new season. The new Sassuolo coach wants to bring Simic as a replacement for Marlon, who transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk, and Ayhan, who is expected to return to his native Turkey.

Sassuolo’s management is currently negotiating with Hajduk to transfer Simic back to the Apennine Peninsula. This may also be one of the reasons why Simic spent the opening round of the Croatian competition only on the substitutes’ bench.

Source: Canale Sassuolo, Slobodna Dalmacija