Nikola Kalinić

Nikola Kalinić (born 5 January 1988) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Croatian club Hajduk Split and the Croatia national team.

Kalinić began his career with Hajduk Split. He played for the club from 2005 to 2009 before moving to English club Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £6 million. Kalinić struggled to adapt to the Premier League and was loaned back to Hajduk Split for the second half of the 2009–10 season. He returned to Blackburn for the 2010–11 season, but once again struggled to make an impact.

In January 2011, Kalinić joined Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on loan. He scored 10 goals in 26 appearances for Dnipro and helped the club win the Ukrainian Cup. In August 2011, Kalinić joined Dnipro permanently for a fee of £4 million. He scored 27 goals in 70 appearances for Dnipro and helped the club win the Ukrainian Super Cup in 2012.

In January 2015, Kalinić joined Italian club Fiorentina for a fee of €5 million. He scored 14 goals in 41 appearances for Fiorentina and helped the club qualify for the Europa League. In August 2016, Kalinić joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe for a fee of €10 million. He scored 19 goals in 51 appearances for Fenerbahçe and helped the club win the Turkish Super Cup in 2017.

In August 2017, Kalinić joined Spanish club Atlético Madrid for a fee of €15 million. He has made 10 appearances for Atlético Madrid and has scored 2 goals.

Kalinić has made 42 appearances for the Croatia national team and has scored 15 goals. He was part of the Croatia squad that reached the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Kalinić is a powerful and physical striker who is good in the air and has a strong shot. He is also a good dribbler and passer.

Kalinić has been praised for his work ethic and determination. He is also a popular figure with the fans, who appreciate his never-say-die attitude.

However, Kalinić has also been criticized for his lack of discipline. He has been sent off several times for violent conduct and has also been involved in a number of controversies.

Overall, Kalinić is a talented and experienced striker who has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. He is a valuable asset to any team and is sure to continue to score goals for many years to come.