April 4, 2020 – Former captain of the Croatia national football team, and currently Shakhtar’s assistant coach, Darijo Srna, revealed in an Instagram interview to fans of the Ukrainian giant that he was tested for the coronavirus, was writing a biography, and why he had refused a spot on the Barcelona squad.
“I was tested for coronavirus this morning and the test was negative. Our dear President Rinat Ahmetov donated 300,000 tests to Ukraine, and I chose to be the first one publicly tested. I am not worried because my discipline is high, and it is the best tactic in fighting the coronavirus,” Srna said on HRT.
He added that this situation is proof that we should live, love, appreciate, and respect each other, adding that the whole world should be stronger once we come out of the coronavirus crisis.
“You don’t know what can happen tomorrow. We all have one life and we should live it to the fullest. We have our family: we should love, appreciate, respect each other. We currently spend more time with our loved ones, and are paying attention to things we never noticed. We should look at it positively. I’m sure the whole world will be stronger once we get out of this situation. People should be better than they used to be.”
Srna emphasized that the Shakhtar team is training individually and each player has their own program.
“I am sure that every Shakhtar player is training individually, even without the program we have prepared. If the Ukrainian league were to continue in three days, I’m sure our team would be physically fit.”
Srna concluded his playing career in June last year. Does he regret it?
“In this situation, I have to suppress my ego per the current situation. I am now a former footballer and will no longer play football at a professional level. I am happy to help coach Luis Castro, Shakhtar players and fans with my experience and knowledge.”
He is confident that the club will one day return to his Donetsk.
“I’m sure we will return to Donetsk one day. I want to play my last game in a Shakhtar shirt at Donbass Arena. Sometimes I make a list for myself of the players I would like to invite. And believe me, it would be a football festival for Ukraine, Europe and the whole world. It will be a really serious team, not just those who played with me in Shakhtar,” he revealed.
He also admitted that he started writing a biography.
“It will be very interesting, because I have described some things that no one knows. Perhaps with the help of this book, people will get to know Darijo’s other side.”
He stressed that he appreciated honesty.
“That’s my most important quality. I don’t need anything else. If a person is honest with me, we might think of something; and if not, there will be no long way.”
He also revealed why in January 2017, he rejected the offer of the Spanish giant Barcelona. For months, the Catalans had been looking for a right-back player because they were not happy with Aleix Vidal, and Shakhtar’s captain was their first wish.
“I decided with my heart. I couldn’t leave Shakhtar. It was a time of war. I didn’t want people to think that I was leaving the club because we were no longer in Donetsk. I felt this was an important moment in our life – the life of Shakhtar and Donbass. I know how much I was respected and loved in Donetsk and how much I loved it… I just couldn’t afford to offend or disappoint people. I do not regret my decision saying no to Barcelona. I stayed at Shakhtar because my heart decided to, this is it,” concluded the legendary Croatian footballer.
Srna played for Shakhtar from 2003 to 2018 and achieved a record 536 caps, with 49 goals and 26 trophies won, including ten championship titles, seven Ukrainian cups, eight super cups and one Uefa Cup. During his playing career, he performed for GOŠK, Hajduk, Shakhtar and Cagliari.
Srna is also the record holder in terms of appearances for Croatia (134), wearing the captain’s belt 68 times and scoring 22 goals for the Vatreni.
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