Chapter 79: Welcome to Dinamo Zagreb

"Hahahaha! Brilliant!!" "Suker! Well done!!" "What a clever little guy!!" The teammates of Zrinjski Mostar ruffled Suker's hair one by one, overflowing with joy. Seeing the deadlock finally broken against Tuzla Sloboda, they couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief — and also chuckle. After more than 80 minutes of relentless pressure, the opposition had exhausted themselves. And Suker had cleverly hidden behind the goalkeeper, unnoticed — a key factor in the goal. But regardless of how it came, this goal finally cracked that damn bus-park defense. It wasn't just the players — even head coach Van stroyak on the bench let out a long sigh of relief. "Finally a goal!" Assistant coach Vandir exclaimed excitedly, "That was such an intelligent goal. Suker did great!" "This kid's always been sharp!" Van stroyak said with a smile. But as he thought about how Suker would be leaving at the end of the season, the smile faded. Where could he find such a useful player again? The departures of Suker and Modrić felt like a death sentence for him. Although the club was willing to provide funds for new signings, players like Suker and Modrić were once-in-a-generation talents — not easily replaceable. Van stroyak shook his head slightly, already dreading the upcoming summer transfer window. On the pitch, after Suker's goal, Zrinjski Mostar immediately shifted tactics. They switched to a defensive posture to protect their lead. After conceding, Tuzla Sloboda grew increasingly agitated, desperate to equalize and erase the shame of that sneaky goal. But in moments like these, mistakes happen easily. When the opposition full-back attempted a forward pass to the winger, Suker suddenly darted in with a slide tackle to intercept the ball. Right after the interception, he sprang up — and before the full-back could press him — launched a lofted pass into the penalty area. Catching the defenders off guard, the fired-up Kosović received the ball, shrugged off two center-backs, leapt high, and smashed a lion-like header into the net. 87th minute — Zrinjski Mostar scored again. The lead extended to 2–0. This goal effectively ended the suspense of the match. At full time, Zrinjski Mostar claimed a 2–0 victory over Tuzla Sloboda once again. After the match, the stadium was filled with furious chanting from the home fans. "Old Moster! Step down!" "Old Moster! Step down!" "Old Moster! Step down!" Not only had they played an ugly game — they lost too. To lose while playing unattractive football — how could the fans not be angry? Coach Mostert had no choice but to retreat to the tunnel under the wrath of the crowd. Worried about fan retaliation, Zrinjski Mostar quickly left the stadium after a short cooldown. They didn't know what would happen to Tuzla Sloboda's coach. But with this win, Zrinjski Mostar were now just one game away from the championship. With two games left in the league, they led Sarajevo by five points. A win in the next match would secure the league title one round early. This thought filled the Zrinjski Mostar players with excitement. Following the victory, the local newspapers in Mostar went wild with coverage. Almost the entire paper was devoted to Zrinjski Mostar. "Kosović finishes off Tuzla Sloboda! The Bus Park tactic fails!" "Old Moster leaves in disgrace! Fans rage with 'Step Down' chants!" "A Historic Moment — Zrinjski Mostar One Win from Bosnian Premier League Glory!" "Day of Glory! Mostar Becomes the Center of Bosnia's Football Scene!" "May 22 — A Day to Witness History!" With these headlines, the entire town of Mostar entered a frenzy. The local government began posting team emblems along the town's roads. Nearly every household visited the club shop to buy team flags and hung them by their doorways. At the town's entrance, a large archway was erected. Across the top, it read: "Welcome to the Champion's Town." All around town were markings of "Champions" and "Zrinjski Mostar." At the entrance to the club's training ground, fans came in droves to cheer for the team. From morning until night, the flow of fans was endless. Even the club began wondering where all these fans had come from. But the atmosphere was already sizzling. In recent days, players hadn't dared to go out much. Their popularity in town was overwhelming — especially the starters. When they showed up, locals would swarm them. Suker once got surrounded in Bakic's pub. He only managed to escape out the back door while Bakic blocked the front. It was the first time Suker truly felt how wildly popular he was in town. Of course, he knew most of it was superficial — fair-weather fans drawn by the prospect of a championship. Few truly knew much about him. On May 15, the club began preparing the Zrinjski Stadium for the big match. Flags were installed around the entire perimeter of the pitch. At the top of the stadium, three flags flew: Zrinjski Mostar's team flag, the UEFA flag, and the Bosnian Football Association flag. On May 17, fans delivered their homemade TIFO banners to the stands. It featured caricatures of all the team's main players — starters and subs — with the slogan "We Are the Champions" above them. Suker and Modrić couldn't resist sneaking a peek. The cartoons were well-drawn and full of personality. Suker and Modrić were front and center, squatting in the first row — true MVPs. By May 20 — just two days before the game — fans began gathering outside the stadium. Led by hardcore supporters, they sang club anthems in unison. It was clear they wanted to intimidate both the opposing players and fans come match day. On May 21, Dinamo Zagreb's head coach Bešić arrived in Mostar. At the Mostar train station, he stepped off lightly packed, dragging a small suitcase. "Boss! Over here!" Jategenić waved at him. Bešić smiled and walked over. The two shared a firm hug. "I watched the last game. We fought hard and finally avoided relegation!" Jategenić gave a thumbs-up. "Great job!" Bešić smiled. "Just survival — I was always confident we'd manage." Jategenić laughed. "Want to rest at the hotel first?" Bešić shook his head. "Let's take care of business first." "Sure thing! I've already set up a meeting with Zrinjski Mostar's sporting director. We can head over anytime!" "Then let's go!" The purpose of Bešić's trip was to finalize Suker's contract. The transfer bid had already been accepted — now it was time to sort out the details. At the meeting room in Zrinjski Mostar, sporting director Keli Vickmanzić and Suker were already waiting. "Hello!" "Hello!" Bešić shook hands with Keli Vickmanzić. He then smiled at Suker. "We meet again!" Suker nodded immediately. "Hello, boss!" Bešić blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Just call me 'sir.'" "Okay! Sir!" Suker was quick to adapt. After a bit of small talk, Keli Vickmanzić smiled and stood up. It was a contract negotiation — his presence wasn't needed. Once Keli left, Bešić looked at Suker. "First, who's your legal guardian in Croatia?" "The old director Oripe!" Suker answered right away. "You can speak on his behalf?" "No problem!" Bešić pulled out a document. "After you sign this, we'll need your guardian's signature too. So the process might be a bit complicated." Suker quickly shook his head. "Not complicated at all!" Bešić: "Alright, let's get started." Suker sat up straight. Bešić chose his words carefully. "Let me clarify one thing first — I'm not bringing you in to play center forward. Can you accept that?" He thought Suker might be attached to that position — best to check early. To his surprise, Suker replied immediately. "I accept!" Bešić was a little taken aback but continued explaining, "Of course, your role won't change much. You'll still play an attacking position." "Then, your salary — 2,000 euros per week. Based on performance, we'll adjust that. There are also goal and assist bonuses. Is that acceptable?" "Acceptable!" "You'll undergo a physical before officially joining — especially to assess your development. Is that okay?" "Totally fine!" Bešić was meticulous, but thanks to Suker's easygoing nature, things moved quickly. Just as Suker had thought — this move wasn't about money. It was a stepping stone. The negotiation was smooth and swift. "You can sign here." Suker took the pen and signed. Bešić smiled as he received the contract. "Once I'm back, I'll confirm with your guardian. But for now — congratulations." He extended his hand. "Welcome to Dinamo Zagreb!" Suker stood up and shook it firmly. "Thank you for your trust, sir! I'll give my best in training and perform to the highest standard!"