With rumours spreading today that Liverpool want to sign Atletico Madrid star Mario Mandzukic to improve their options upfront this summer, here’s a look at five things Reds fans should know about this possible new signing…
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1) He started out as a winger
Playing under former England manager Steve McClaren at Wolfsburg, the bulky target man we all know today was actually used as a winger. However, after the departure of Edin Dzeko to Manchester City, Mario Mandzukic was moved upfront where he’d also impressed at previous club Dinamo Zagreb, and his career took off from there.
2) He’s a treble winner
Most of you will know this, but Mandzukic was a key part of Bayern Munich’s treble-winning side in 2012/13. The Croatian was only in his first season at the Allianz Arena, but contributed 22 goals in all competitions, including the opener in the final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, to help the Bavarian giants to a memorable year.
3) 17 goals for Croatia
Mandzukic has 17 goals in 58 caps for the Croatian national team. Although his record is perhaps not as good as it should be, he has done well to be an ever-present since making his debut back in 2007, scoring twice at Euro 2012 and once at last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
4) Big name in his home country
Mandzukic is understandably a big name in his native Croatia, and has won the Croatian Footballer of the Year award twice, in 2012 and 2013, seeing off competition from Real Madrid star Luka Modric.
5) 3rd Croatian to play for Liverpool
If Mandzukic does join Liverpool, he’ll be only the third Croatian player to feature for them in their history, the others being Igor Biscan and current defender Dejan Lovren. Hopefully he’ll prove more successful than those two.