With Croatia (and OM), Duje Caleta-Carr wants to move up a gear

His thunderous first match with Marseille this season in Ligue 1 recalled how Duje Caleta-Car had progressed in two seasons, and how much he could embody tomorrow's defense for Croatia, opponent of France, Tuesday in the League of Nations (8:45 p.m., TF1).

After a difficult year of rookie, then a much better second, cut short by the pandemic, "Duje", who will celebrate his 24th birthday in ten days, got off to a great start with a double in Brest (3-2): a goal with the foot, with a scorer's gesture, another with a more classic header for a central mounted on a corner.

Precisely one of the areas he needed to improve, Caleta-Car explained to AFP in February.

“I could score more, especially on corners, I could be more dangerous thanks to my size,” he had wished.

"He never gave up, continued to work"

André Villas-Boas

In Brittany, he smashed the screen with his goals, but above all he had a big defensive match, cutting many paths and imposing his colossus physique (1.92m for 89 kg).

He also delivered some of his "sweets" which Marseille supporters delight in, 40-meter cross-sections with a goldsmith's precision, placed on a five-cent coin.

“There are no recipes for these raises, I try to do the best I can, but it's very difficult to be precise and to get there every time, he explains.

But as soon as I have the opportunity, I try those long passes which can create space for my teammates. ”

This is one of the qualities of the Croatian who had seduced the staff of Rudi Garcia, four times opposed to "DCC" in the Europa League 2017-18, in groups, then in the semi-finals (2-0, 1-2 ap) against Salzburg.

Purchased 20 million euros, Caleta-Car initially disappointed, but had extenuating circumstances: he had just played twelve months without interruption, from the European preliminaries with the Austrian club until the World Cup final against the Blues, in July 2018, where he was on the bench.

“I had just arrived, I was not in good shape, everything was new, and I experienced a drop in confidence,” he admits.

But he conquered his place the following season, under the authority of André Villas-Boas.

"He never gave up, continued to work," said the OM coach.

Now he dreams of conquering his place in the national team, where reigns vice-world champion, Dejan Lovren (Zenit) -Domagoj Vida (Besiktas), still holders but exceeded Saturday in Portugal (4-1).

A place to take

“It's true that now that I'm playing well, I would like to take it, me, this place, he dreams.

I would be happy to play, but they definitely have priority over me, because they are more experienced. "

If he embodies the future of the incredible Croatian breeding ground, he has fallen a little behind by not playing the Euro 2019 Espoirs, in Italy.

OM did not want him to go.

The coach, Zlatko Dalic, had punished him in the wake, leaving him on the bench against Wales and Tunisia in June 2019, and at home in September for Slovakia and Azerbaijan.

“It has always been an honor and pride to be part of the Croatia team,” replied the player, waiting for the storm to pass.

Now all is well and he is ready to conquer his place, as at OM, where his performances could attract buyers.

In Marseille, "he is more fulfilled", judged at the end of January Bouna Sarr, his teammate.

“He is more at ease, goes more towards others, and it shows.

He has the soul of a leader, even if he has to make progress in French, and in clothing too, ”he added, laughing.

Dressed on the day of the interview in a superb Mickey sweatshirt, Caleta-Car responded to Sarr's pike: "I'm not a stylist like Bouna (keen on bling-bling and US rap clothes), I'm not not a pro.

When I wake up I don't have the energy to choose, I take the clothes on the top of the pile. "

But he's ready to grab the checkered jersey.

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