Croatian champions HNK Rijeka have officially announced the signing of Lithuanian national team captain Justas Lasickas on a long-term deal. The versatile defender has penned a three-year contract.
Lasickas arrives from Slovenian powerhouse Olimpija Ljubljana, where he spent the past three seasons as a key player. During his time with the club, he made 107 appearances, scored five goals, and contributed six assists, helping Olimpija clinch two Slovenian league titles and one domestic cup.
Rijeka, who captured the Croatian league title last season after a thrilling battle with regional giants Dinamo Zagreb, are now preparing for their UEFA Champions League qualification campaign. The club will enter in the second round, where they will face the winner of the tie between Bulgarian champions Ludogorets and Belarusian champions Dinamo Minsk.
Lasickas is no stranger to Rijeka. He faced them in last season’s UEFA Conference League playoff round, where his then-club Olimpija Ljubljana eliminated the Croatian side with a dominant 6–1 aggregate victory.
The 27-year-old brings with him a broad résumé from across European football. In addition to his success in Slovenia, Lasickas previously played for Žalgiris in his home country—winning three Lithuanian league titles and a national cup—as well as stints in Poland with Jagiellonia Białystok and in Serbia with clubs Zemun and Voždovac.
On the international stage, Lasickas is the captain of the Lithuanian national team. With 61 caps and two goals to his name.
Source: https://nk-rijeka.hr/justas-lasickas-potpisao-za-hnk-rijeka/
