When a top-level coach describes one of his emerging prospects as having "everything a young player should have", it is generally worth taking note. When that man is Jose Mourinho, the words take on added significance.
Inter Milan’s Portuguese coach is not renowned for lavishing praise on youngsters but, in Rene Krhin, he sees something out of the ordinary. Nor is he alone in this. Indeed, the Slovenian teenager was the subject of a titanic tug-of-war before agreeing a new contract with the Italian champions at the turn of the year, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all reportedly willing to pay £7m to prise him from the San Siro.
Krhin’s power, athleticism and technical ability have also caught the eye of his international coach. Matjaz Kek has been anxious to carefully nurture the Inter prodigy, but nonetheless recognises that his country’s best prospect cannot be kept under wraps for long. Kek chose Wembley as the stage on which to hand Krhin his Slovenia debut last September and, having provided an impressive cameo, the 19-year-old duly went on to make his senior bow for I Nerazzurri the following week.
"That was a very special week for me," he later reflected. "You work a whole lifetime for certain experiences and it was a dream come true." This, it was becoming clear, was to be Krhin’s breakthrough season, with his competitive international debut against San Marino a month later further establishing him within the Slovenian squad.
He is really professional with big ambitions, and I'm also very happy with his discipline and talent. Jose Mourinho on Rene Krhin
source: (fifa.com)
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