AliousNazariy Rusyn made his anticipated departure from Sunderland during the January transfer window, securing a loan move to Croatian club Hajduk Split under the management of Gennaro Gattuso. However, his time in Croatia has been anything but smooth sailing.
Initially, Rusyn made a positive impression, registering an assist on his debut after coming on as a substitute. However, the Ukrainian forward has struggled to build on that early momentum. The 26-year-old was given his first start for Hajduk but failed to make an impact, leading to his substitution at halftime. He later featured for 20 minutes in the following match, bringing his total appearances for the club to three, with just one assist to his name. Meanwhile, Hajduk Split remain in second place in the Croatian top flight.
Sunderland originally signed Rusyn from Ukrainian side Zorya in the summer of 2023, investing £2.5 million in the attacker. During his time at the Stadium of Light, he managed 29 Championship appearances but found the net only twice. This season, before heading to Croatia, he had played eight league games under Sunderland’s head coach, Régis Le Bris, without scoring a goal.
Rusyn’s arrival in Croatia has not been met with universal approval. Iko Buljan, a former player and manager, has criticized Hajduk Split’s winter transfer activity. Speaking to the Croatian outlet Direktno, Buljan expressed skepticism about the club’s new signings, including Rusyn. “I’m not convinced by any of this,” he remarked. “At Hajduk, players are well paid, but they don’t give back anywhere near enough in return.” In what seemed like a veiled criticism of Rusyn, Buljan added, “Players with true quality would be competing in stronger leagues instead of coming to Hajduk.”
Before his loan move to Croatia, Rusyn had turned down an offer from Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen. His future beyond this season remains uncertain, but he is still under contract with Sunderland until 2027, with the club holding the option to extend his stay by an additional year. However, given his struggles, Sunderland may be more inclined to part ways with him permanently.
Sporting Director Kristjaan Speakman could push for a sale in the summer, with Hajduk Split having the option to sign Rusyn permanently for £2.1 million. If the Croatian side activates the clause, Sunderland would recoup most of their initial investment.
For now, Rusyn has the remainder of the season to prove himself in Croatia. Whether he can turn his fortunes around before the summer transfer window remains to be seen.
Alious
