Chelsea sign Croatian teenage midfielder Mario Pasalic

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/09/mario-pasalic-signs-chelsea-hajduk-split

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Chelsea have announced the signing of midfielder Mario Pasalic from Hajduk Split.

The 19-year-old, who was named in Croatia’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad, will join up with José Mourinho’s squad for its first pre-season training session on Wednesday afternoon.

“I am very happy because I am now a Chelsea player,” Pasalic told Chelsea’s official club website.

“I am very impressed by the training ground and I must thank everybody at Hajduk. This is now a new start in my career.

“I am a central midfielder, my favourite player is Frank Lampard, and so I am very happy to be a Chelsea player.”

Born in Germany, Pasalic scored 11 times in 36 appearances in all competitions last season as his club finished third in the Croatian league.