Simon Sluga has revealed that the vision of new Luton boss Graeme Jones played a big factor in him signing for the Hatters in a club record €1.3m deal with Croatian club HNK Rijeka.
He became the manager’s fifth signing since taking over the hotseat this summer and two weeks before the big Championship kick-off at home to Middlesbrough, the 26-year-old Croatian international told the club’s official website: “We spoke a few times and I saw him as a very positive guy, a very good coach and when he told me about his vision of football and his vision of me in the goal and everything, it meant a lot to me,” adding: “It’s one of the main things that made me decide to come here.”
The 6ft 3ins stopper, who played against Luton in a pre-season last summer, said: “I’m glad and very happy for this opportunity. I’m very happy that the club wants me and decided that I’m the guy, so I have only happy feelings.
“I know a lot of things about Luton Town, about the town, about the Championship as a league, so I can only say again that I’m glad to have the opportunity to be here. I want to help the club to have a great season, to stay in the league and if we can, to push for the play-offs.”
In making the move from his homeland, Sluga said he spoke to fellow Croatians who have also made the move to England. He said: “I spoke with Lovre Kalinic, from Aston Villa, who played half a season here. He told me everything. I spoke with my coach in Rijeka, Igor Bišćan, who played for Liverpool, and with other guys.
“Everyone told me, ‘come, it’s a great league, a great opportunity, go and show what you know’. I think I made the right decision for me.”
