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BENDIŠ SPENDS SOME MONEY!!!
For the first time in 3 years, Hajduk fans were treated to their manager making nearly hourly reports to the press on deadline day. Until then, it had been all a one way street: all out, no in.
To be fair, it had paid off. Andrea Mei, the free transfer from Inter last season had just moved to Pisa, with Bendiš pocketing 60K, and Ivan Graf, who absolutely no one thought would work out moved to Wisla for 70. The happiest person from all of this is definitely Ivan Graf. At 25, it looked like his career had bottomed out, but an optimistic young manager brought him in, handed him two Croatian league winner's medals, a cup, and then a move to one of Poland's biggest club. Happy days for Krakow's new #6 (rating last 5: 7.28. Lucky bastard is on a 4 year contract).
But, when Bendiš had invited the press to his café for the first time during a deadline day? Everyone's nose perked.
And with good reason.
On August 31st, Alberto Paloschi was the first person on Hajduk's radar. Bendiš didn't need a striker, he had Kiš and Džoni, but Paloschi? This was supposed to be Milan's future #9! And for 2.5M, he was a steal.
Unfortunately, 1.9M a year plus add-ons was not (in salary), and by 5 AM, the deal was done... before it came back again as a loan. Milan had accepted, and it was all set in place, before Paloschi decided he might as well fight it out in Italy, rather than play in the Champions League. All done by 7 in the morning.
Bendiš quickly turned to Alen Halilovi?. The 18 year old from Zagreb was young, fast, and had good technique. He didn't want to move from his home town, though. Perfectly understandable. There hasn't been a deal where a Dinamo player goes to Hajduk in years...
But then Bendiš really went to town. For 6 hours on deadline day, the ambitious manager pulled all the stops to try to sign Mateo Kova?i?. Not really for the fact that he needed Kova?i?; even Andrijaševi? was beating out Dinamo's midfielder to the national team. But, he wanted Dinamo
not to have him.
10.5 million euros later, there was no deal...
Bendiš was seriously on his last legs. He was linked with signings throughout Europe. The Hajduk manager was going to put a fight against Real Madrid and Josip Radoševi?'s Ajax. These were his hours of glory. HE NEEDED SOMEONE.
And then he found him. At 10PM. On deadline day:
With a rating of 8.29 in the Croatia U19 leagues, and 7.59 in the Croatian first division, playing for the super unfashionable Šibenik, Bendiš found his gem... no, his diamond.
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Bendiš paid a
huge amount by his standards. An absolutely freakin' colossal 650 000 € to secure the player's transfer... But after having so many negotiations thwarted when he came to the player and his agent *shiver*, Pero Baši? threw Bendiš a curveball, and asked for 7 500 € a year.
And Bendiš gave him that so fast that Baši? nearly wondered "should I have asked for more", just as the clock chimed midnight on September 1st, as the jazz flowed freely below, while Bendiš took a break from the piano.
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Meanwhile... on the other side of contract negotiations, Bendiš is in the process of renewing three of his player's contracts, which reminded Bendiš how much he hated agents. Although, these guys were much better than Moscow's newest citizen...
Mijo ?aktaš held Bendiš for ransom, as he pulled a massive 350 000 € a year from the club, while Goran Blaževi? did nearly as well, with 275 000 €. But, the kicker was that Bendiš had them both on 6 year contracts (5 + an extension after 5 games) meaning that, no matter the circumstances, Bendiš was keeping his key players. Blaževi? was his star goalkeeper, and would stay until he turned 34, which, unless he is sold, will be more than plenty of time for Ivan Bani? to steal his spot.
Mijo ?aktaš, on the other hand, will be able to negotiate a new contract when he turns 28.
Ivan Mili?evi? finally understood his squad status, and accepted a 6 year contract as a back-up on a wage cut, while the highlight of contract negotiations is Josip Baši? hugely undervaluing himself. He isn't perfect, but he has in excellent form for an 18 year old... Mirko Oremuš nearly doubled his salary, but it could have been worse. From 100K to 175K.
Anyway, next year, Bendiš and Hajduk can look forward to renewing Franko Andrijaševi?'s contract. The midfielder used to be the best paid player until now.
HOPEFULLY, Bendiš's finances haven't gone kaput. But he isn't a banker... So he won't know. Milovi?'s sale to Spartak, and Radoševi?'s panic sell to Ajax should be more than plenty to finance the rest of the team's salary...
At least no one else is leaving
