Bosnia and Herzegovina international's arrival proves Garcia acknowledges mistakes; we analyze which ones

Hajduk is poised to announce a new defensive reinforcement with the impending arrival of Dennis Hadžikadunić, a 28-year-old defender for the Bosnian and Herzegovina national team. Hadžikadunić joins Hajduk as a free agent after formally being with Russian club Rostov for eight years.

Although he was officially a Rostov player since 2018, the 190 cm tall center-back spent the last five seasons out on loan. His loan spells included stints at Malmö, Mallorca, Hamburger SV, and Sampdoria. During his time in Germany and Italy, he consistently played around 25 league matches per season, accumulating approximately 2,000 minutes on the field annually.

Hadžikadunić, who was born and raised in Sweden, has chosen to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally, becoming a regular member of the national team since 2020. He also featured for BiH at the recent World Cup, playing 27 minutes in the group stage match against Qatar and providing an assist in a 3-1 victory.

The acquisition of Hadžikadunić signals a potential shift in strategy for Hajduk's coach, Gonzalo Garcia. It suggests an acknowledgment that the team requires stoppers who excel in defensive duties, rather than solely focusing on build-up play and technical proficiency on the ball, which is characteristic of current defenders Dario Marešić and Alec Van Hoorenbeeck. Hadžikadunić is described as a classic, physically strong center-back whose primary strengths lie in defensive reliability, positioning, and aerial ability.

Marešić and Van Hoorenbeeck faced criticism earlier this season for their defensive contributions, particularly in penalty area coverage and positioning. These critiques appear to have prompted Hajduk to adjust its approach. Beyond his tactical profile, Hadžikadunić is expected to bring much-needed experience to Hajduk's defense. At 28, he will be the oldest center-back on the squad, boasting experience from playing in Spain, Germany, and Italy. He has previously been tasked with marking formidable opponents such as Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, Harry Kane, Antoine Griezmann, and Alvaro Morata, experience that is deemed invaluable for the team, especially for younger defenders like Marin Skelin and Rok Gabrić.