Marko Pjaca Joins Schalke from Juventus

by croatiaweek
January 4, 2018
in Sport

Marko Pjaca joins Schalke (Photo: FC Schalke 04)

Croatian international Marko Pjaca has joined Germany Bundesliga side FC Schalke 04 on Thursday on loan from Juventus.

The deal will see Pjaca play for the German club for the rest of the season before he returns to Italy in the summer.

Pjaca, who signed for Italian giants Juventus for €23 million in 2016, has not played for the first-team since March 2017 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament whilst on international duty for Croatia.

I would like to thank all the Juve fans for their great support since I arrived and especially during this hard period when I was injured. That is something I will never forget and will always carry in my heart.#ForzaJuve #finoallafine ⚪️ ⚫️ pic.twitter.com/lQF3eUvF4y

— Marko Pjaca (@marko_pjaca20) January 4, 2018

Pjaca was stretchered off in Croatia’s 3-0 loss to Estonia in an international friendly in Tallinn in March 2017 and underwent surgery in Italy.

Pjaca was stretchered off in Croatia’s 3-0 loss to Estonia in an international friendly in Tallinn (Photo: HNS)

He has made a full recovery but is unable to force his way into Juventus’ starting XI.

Pjaca made 14 appearances for Juventus and netted once in the UEFA Champions League before he was injured.

#Pjaca: “The coach has told me a lot about his playing style and I liked that. Now I’m just hoping for as many games as possible.” #S04 pic.twitter.com/3kQiKvpwoB

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) January 4, 2018

The loan deal is good news for Pjaca and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic as it gives the 22-year-winger a chance to get valuable match-time ahead of the World Cup in June.