Darko Velkovski is officially new player of Croatian side Rijeka making his first international transfer.
Eventually Darko Velkovski moved abroad. Once regarded at wunderkind as at only 16 he played regularly for the first team of Rabotnichki, Velkovski has troubles signing abroad and instead ended up at local rivals Vardar three years ago.
Now Velkovski finally got out of the Macedonian league. With his talent he is way ahead of the football that is being played here and that is why his move abroad is a relieve for all Macedonian football fans.
Darko signed a 3-year contract with Rijeka with an option for an additional year to be added. His new team ended the second on the second place with just 3 point behind Dinamo and thus qualified for the Europa League where will start from the third qualifying round. They won the league title last season when Stefan Ristovski and Leonard Zhuta were part of the team. Ristovski left last summer, but Zhuta is there to welcome Darko. Also, part of Rijeka is Ristovski’s younger brother Milan who mostly plays for the youth team.
“I just arrived in Rijeka. The city is great, the people are awesome, everyone is smiling. Ristovski told me only good thing about the city, the club and the fans as well. I also know Zhuta who used to play for Macedonia and also Milan Ristovski. I hope we will do our best and win trophies with Rijeka. I followed the Croatian league on TV and I know some of the players and of course Dinamo and Hajduk. I believe that I will have no problems adapting to the playing style and I hope I will get better and better. I have to thank Rijeka for this opportunity, but also to my agents.” – Velkovski said during his presentation.
Velkovski, who can play in the midfield and as central defender as well, was suspended by Vardar in January and therefore did not play a single game the past second half-season. The reason was that he refused to sign a new contract and instead agreed to join Rijeka for the new season. He is regular at the national team.