Milan Badelj has chosen to leave Fiorentina after an emotional season with the Italian club.
Milan Badelj will no longer wear the purple shirt of Fiorentina, and after four seasons with the club, has announced his decision to leave next season through an emotional farewell letter published on the official website of the Italian Serie A club, reports Index.hr on May 29, 2018.
“Sometimes our life choices are not easy, even when they seem to be. But, every one of us is different, and those who know me know that I am a person who always wants to move forward. Maybe I’m wrong, but today I want to go further, leaving the place I consider to be home, a place where I found peace, balance, and happiness – and in a single word, a place of stability,” wrote the 29-year-old Croatian player who, after the tragic death of Davide Astori, was promoted to the captain of Fiorentina.
Though the club fought to keep the Croatian footballer and offered him a new four-year contract, Badelj refused. The director of Fiorentina, Pantaleo Corvino, said that Badelj was offered better financial conditions, but that money was not a decisive factor in his decision.
“The career of a football player is not very long, and I am unfortunately not ready to stay at Fiorentina forever. There is still a lot of desire and enthusiasm for new challenges,” Badelj wrote, thanking everyone, from the fans to the club staff.
“Thank you, Florence! We have had unforgettable moments, good and bad, but we always did this together, which makes me proud. That’s why I feel like a part of you. There are moments where it is not easy to be clear and express all that I feel, but I am sure in one thing – in the years I spent with you I grew up as a man,” concluded Badelj’s farewell letter.
Although his new destination is still unknown, the Italian media say that the 29-year-old Croatian midfielder is closest to a contract with Milan, who wanted to bring him over last season. According to unofficial reports, Badelj has been offered a three-year contract with an annual salary of 2.5 million euro.
Badelj became a player of Fiorentina in 2014 after two seasons in HSV. In his 140 matches for the Italian club, he secured six goals.
