Ex-prime minister Nikola Kalinic signs for the Croatian team until the end of the season with a salary of 86 cents
- The 36-year-old played for Blackburn Rovers, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid
- He has been described as one of the best Croatian strikers of the past decade
- Mail Sport's chief football reporter Sami Mokbel gives the latest on Ivan Toney, Conor Gallagher and more It all starts
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A former Premier League striker has signed for Croatian side Hajduk Split on a salary of 86 cents until the end of the season.
Nikola Kalinic, who was once worth £13m, played a key role in Croatia's 2018 World Cup campaign where they finished in second place.
The number nine has been described as one of the best Croatian strikers of the past decade and has played for Blackburn Rovers, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Roma and Atletico Madrid.
But after starting his career with Hajduk and making his debut in the 2005-2006 season, he has decided to return for a third spell.
This happened just five months after he left at the end of his contract, and now at the age of 36 and as a free agent he accepted a salary of €1 (86p).
Nikola Kalinic poses with the number 9 shirt after rejoining his boyhood club Hajduk Split
The Croatian international has played for numerous top clubs, including Atletico Madrid
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The Croatia international described it as the 'easiest deal' he has ever had to sign.
Director Mindaugas Nikolicius said: “Nikola returns with one goal: to help Hajduk win the title after 19 years.”
The club currently sits at the top of the Croatian league, six points ahead of Rijeka. They have not won the league title since the 2004-2005 season.
He will wear the number 9 shirt he used to wear after Aleksandar Trajkovski voluntarily gave it up and took number 27, the club said.
Despite not playing since May, he will be put on a specific training plan to be ready for coach Mislav Karoglan.
The Croatian striker said it was the 'easiest deal' he has ever had to sign in his life
Kalinic endured a frustrating spell in England playing for Blackburn Rovers after joining the club in 2009.
He originally signed for £6 million and scored just seven league goals in 44 appearances.
He left in 2011 and joined Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine.