Hull City’s new aquisition, striker Nikica Jelavic, has revealed that a major factor in his departure from Everton was the determination he has to represent Croatia in the World Cup later this year.
The former Rapid Vienna and Glasgow Rangers forward joined Everton in January 2012 from the Scottish outfit and scored 11 goals in his first 16 appearances before enduring a difficult second campaign and a stop-start 2013-14 thus far.
Speaking with dailymail.co.uk, Jelavic explained his decision to start afresh at Hull: “The World Cup is coming up and the best thing was to move.”
“We missed the last World Cup so this was a big chance after a long time to go again, especially now it’s Brazil.”
Indeed, the Croatians could not have wished for a more glamourous return to World Cup action, playing as they will in the opening game against the hosts on June 12 in Sao Paulo.
Something of a late bloomer internationally, Jelavic has gained 31 caps since his debut in 2009 and has five Croatia goals to his name.
