Hajduk have confirmed David Colina has joined Augsburg with them reportedly agreeing to let him go for a transfer fee of around €350k with some bonuses on top of that rising the value to a total of €750k. David Colina is 22-year-old youth Croatia international with a total of 60 appearances in all youth categories.
Colina started his career at H. Dragovoljac before joining GNK Dinamo Zagreb‘s academy in 2009. where he stayed until 2018. In 2018, he joins AS Monaco’s U19s where he stays for a year before making a move to Hajduk where he came in as a replacement for Domagoj Bradaric (former Lille, current Salernitana player). He made a total of 109 appearances for Hajduk, starting in 74 of them.
Colina has signed a deal until 2027.
The talented Croatian left back, David Colina joins FC Augsburg on a contract until June 2027! 📝 pic.twitter.com/UFbv9Tbhof
— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) January 14, 2023
THE HAJDUK PATH
At the time of his arrival at Hajduk, he was still quite green, but as time passed he looked more mature. Hajduk brought in a more seasoned player and a Croatia first-team international at the time in Dario Melnjak two or so years ago with the view of Colina learning from him but at the same time pushing each other. His best time in the Hajduk shirt came in the Croatian Cup last year in which he started 4/5 games as Hajduk went all the way. That was his only trophy with the club.
Hajduk chopped and changed coaches an unhealthy amount and the continuity he got at times didn’t last very long or it faded into the poor atmosphere at the club. But Hajduk overall didn’t have an extended run of continuity either excluding the last year and a half where there were really positive signs. That was the start of Hajduk really improving the squad with the arrival of Livaja and co.
Dambrauskas was the coach he grew the most with in terms of tactical discipline, with him using him all over the pitch… literally. He broke into the first eleven dozen times as a right/left winger when the left-back spot was closed and even when he wasn’t starting he was quite often used as a “corrector” on the wings or in his natural left-back position offering defensive security and lung-busting runs on the counter off the bench. Colina was also used as a right back and a midfielder handful of times which just shows the versatility he possesses in his locker.
He’s an adventurous fullback, who relies a lot on his feel for attacks when he goes forward. He’s unpredictable and loves a combination with a midfielder before a dribble or an overlap on the byline. The 22-year-old got a solid technical base and loves to drive with the ball. Colina is also deceptively quick and enjoys intercepting the ball against the run of play.
He needs work when it comes to finishing off the attack. There are a lot of instances where he fluffs his lines or overhits a cross after doing everything great prior to that. However, the technical base I previously mentioned when it comes to dribbling and combinations just needs to catch up in the final third in his deliveries. He also needs guidance and a coach who’ll work on his game in detail. Bundesliga should suit him, he loves running with the ball into open spaces, winning yards on his own.
He’s tenacious when defending and goes into challenges hard. He still needs work in his overall defence because he can overcommit and give away fouls. Additionally, he can switch off at times. I assume he’ll fill out his frame soon in the Bundesliga which should help him out in duels.
ALL IN ALL…
Overall you’re getting a player with an unknown ceiling but one who has a bit of everything in his arsenal for an attacking modern fullback. It just needs to fall into place for him. Augsburg have 9! Croatians in and around the first team so he should fit in quickly. I’ll definitely keep an eye on his games. These relatively unknown Croatian youngsters seem to be blowing up after getting big moves recently and Colina might just be another one to add to the list of Sosa, Juranovic, Vuskovic and others.