Italian side Parma is poised to secure the services of Antonio Colak, with the Rangers striker undergoing a medical examination today ahead of a potential £2.5 million transfer to the Serie B outfit. While some may hastily label the Croatian international as a “flop” due to his departure from Ibrox after just 12 months, the situation is far more nuanced than it appears.
During his solitary season in Scotland, Antonio Colak demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess by finding the net 18 times, making him the top scorer in Michael Beale’s squad during the 2022/23 campaign. His imminent departure, therefore, is not due to a lack of performance but rather a question of tactical suitability. Beale is seeking a striker who can contribute more when off the ball, possessing the athleticism and tenacity to lead the line effectively—a quality that Colak does not quite fulfill. In this regard, the well-traveled poacher falls short of Beale’s requirements.
Cyriel Dessers, on the other hand, is a lethal finisher and a relentless hard-worker, renowned for his tireless off-the-ball contributions. He embodies the characteristics that align better with Beale’s system, making him a more suitable choice as the first-choice number nine.
With his impending move to Parma, Antonio Colak will add yet another destination to his footballing journey. Having plied his trade in Germany, Greece, Sweden, Scotland, Poland, and Croatia, the Croatian striker is now en route to Emilia Romagna for a fee estimated to be around £2.5 million, as reported by the Daily Record.
According to Italian publication Tuttomercatoweb, Colak is expected to sign a three-year contract with Parma, worth £12,000-a-week after taxes. Upon his arrival at the club, he will undergo medical tests and will be entrusted with the task of spearheading Parma’s promotion campaign, as the fallen giants narrowly missed out on securing a spot in Serie A during the 2022/23 season.
As for his successor at Rangers, it remains to be seen if Cyriel Dessers, who arrived from Cremonese for a reported fee of £4.3 million, will inherit the coveted number nine shirt left vacant by Colak’s departure. Dessers, however, is confident in his ability to offer more to the team beyond just goals.
“I think I can offer more than goals,” Dessers expressed in an interview with the Rangers website. “I can be important off the ball; in pressing the other team, recovering balls high up the pitch, and then relaunching a counter-attack.”
Dessers further outlined his versatility, stating, “I can play with my back to the goal, play short combinations, and I can go deep. I’m at my best when I am facing the goal. So I think those are the various attributes that can benefit the team.”
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Impressed by the cohesive group of players and the manager’s clear vision on and off the pitch, Dessers emphasized the significance of this environment in his decision-making process: “I really like the group of players that are here. The manager has a really good idea of what he wants on and off the pitch, and it is fundamental for me. That is why I made the choice.”
As Antonio Colak embarks on his new adventure in Italy and Cyriel Dessers prepares to take up the mantle at Rangers, both players aim to contribute their unique skill sets to their respective teams’ successes in the upcoming season.