Florian Plettenberg reports that Igor Matanović (22) has passed his medical with Freiburg ahead of joining Julian Schuster’s side from Eintracht Frankfurt for €8m. The Croatian forward will sign ...
Florian Plettenberg reports that Igor Matanović (22) has passed his medical with Freiburg ahead of joining Julian Schuster’s side from Eintracht Frankfurt for €8m. The Croatian forward will sign a four-year contract until 2029.
Freiburg have fought off competition from Stuttgart and Augsburg to sign Matanović, who scored just one goal in 16 Bundesliga games for Eintracht Frankfurt last season. The €8m including bonuses that the Hessen club will receive is an excellent return on the €500k they invested on the forward from St. Pauli in January 2021.
Following the arrival of Jonathan Burkardt at Eintracht Frankfurt, Matanović will be the second attacker to leave die Adler this summer after Ignacio “Nacho Ferri” Julia joined Belgian outfit KVC Westerlo for €2m.
What will Ivan Matanović bring to Freiburg?
While not being able to show it at Eintracht Frankfurt, Matanović proved clinical during his loan spell at 2. Bundesliga side Karlsruhe that he can be prolific. The Croat scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 32 second division games in the 2023/24 season.
With Michael Gregoritsch likely heading out the exit door at Freiburg, there’s likely a starting berth in Schuster’s new look attack next season. SCF have already signed Yuito Suzuki (€10m), Cyriaque Irié (€8.5m) and Derry Scherhant (€2m) this summer, but Matanović will arrive as the club’s new focal point in attack.
Factor in the contract extension of Vincenzo Grifo, and Freiburg will be an exciting team to watch this season.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
Category: General Sports
