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Mario Pasalic may have just officially arrived at Chelsea Football Club this week, but he's already looking to leave. Oh man, I should've used that as my headline. Page clicks for days! Especially once I work in the fact that apparently all that Jose Mourinho's said to him personally in the two training days so far was "Do you speak English?"
Anyway, a loan for the 19-year-old Croatian was not only expected, it's basically our only option thanks to EU/UK work permit regulations, which won't be changing until next summer.
"...[until] the end of next week I'm training with Chelsea in London's camp, and then [decide on my] future career."
-Mario Pasalic; source: Sportske Novosti via Google Translate
While Mario doesn't exactly know where Emenalo & Co will end up sending him, he'd love it if it were Spain.
"...Spain the best choice. I'm not hiding, I've always dreamed of playing in La Liga. I think I'm going to Spain to have the best conditions for development. [...] Spain is currently the most probable destination."
-Mario Pasalic; source: Sportske Novosti via Google Translate
The source article goes on to speculate that Elche, who in their first season back in the top flight since 1989 barely survived relegation by one point, may be a potential destination. Not a bad place to play your football, that, midst the palm groves (almost) on the coast of the Mediterranean. La Liga would also offer a greater challenge than Vitesse in the Eredivisie, and considering that Pasalic made the provisional 30-man squad for Croatia prior to the World Cup, such a challenge is not an unreasonable option.
In any case, until then, Pasalic is enjoying his life in London, hanging out with the Balkan Wrecking Crew of Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Matic, Marko Marin, Stipe Perica, and Matej Delac. Oh hey, Marko Marin!
Thanks to 'Dariolino' for the tip!