Speaker 1: Croatian international striker Franto Ivanovitch has chosen to join League
Speaker 1: One side our Sea Lens over Sirie club Lasio. Following
Speaker 1: weeks of competing negotiations across Europe, the twenty two year
Speaker 1: old forward gave his final approval to the sporting project
Speaker 1: presented by the French club, prompting Benfica to move forward
Speaker 1: with the permanent transfer. The decision comes after an intense
Speaker 1: pursuit by Lasio, where manager Gennaro Gatuso had identified Ivanovitch
Speaker 1: as a primary target to bolster the Baianco Celestia attacking unit.
Speaker 1: Lazio had reached an agreement in principle with Benfica structured
Speaker 1: around a loan deal with an option to buy that
Speaker 1: would transform into a mandatory purchase clause upon achieving European qualification. However,
Speaker 1: Ivanovitch favored the direct guarantee and playing role offered by
Speaker 1: our Sea Lens in France, leading the player's camp to
Speaker 1: finalized terms with the League One outfit. From Benfica's perspective,
Speaker 1: sanctioning Ivanovitch's departure allows the Portuguese club to recoup the
Speaker 1: majority of their initial twenty two point eight million euro
Speaker 1: investment made when they sign the forward from Union Saint
Speaker 1: Galwas in the summer of twenty twenty five. Despite making
Speaker 1: thirty one appearances and scoring five goals during his tenure
Speaker 1: at the Estadio de Luz, Ivanovitch struggled to dislodge starting
Speaker 1: striker Van Gelis Pavlodus. His pathway to regular minutes was
Speaker 1: further restricted following Benfica's summer acquisition of Colombian forward Hon Duran.
Speaker 1: With the player's preference firmly established, Benfica and RC Lens
Speaker 1: are completing the final paperwork and administrative details to conclude
Speaker 1: the transaction. Ivanovitch is expected to travel to France shortly
Speaker 1: to complete his medical examinations and sign his contract ahead
Speaker 1: of the upcoming League One campaign.