Soccer star Perišić to play Poreč Major

2017-06-01 11:21:00 CEST

Soccer star Perišić to play Poreč Major

Croatian to swap a football for a beach volleyball!

Ivan's shirt for the tournament has already been printed. Photo: Swatch Major Series

Croatian international soccer star Ivan Perišić is set to make a surprise appearance at the Poreč Major – by playing in the biggest beach volleyball tournament in his home country.

The 28-year-old currently plays in Italy with Inter Milan and has represented Croatia’s national team on 56 occasions, scoring 16 goals.

But in Poreč, winger Perišić will swap a football for a Mikasa and team up with professional beach volleyball player and friend Nikša Dell’Orco. The pair’s entry has been given the green light by the sport’s governing body, the FIVB, and by the Swatch Major Series’ internal sports department.

Born in Split, Perišić plays beach volleyball during soccer’s close season. He began his professional soccer career in France with Sochaux and then moved to Club Brugge in Belgium. He subsequently joined German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and then Wolfsburg before signing for Inter Milan in August 2015 for €16 million.

The news of Ivan’s participation at the tournament was revealed at the Poreč Major press conference on Thursday.

In a statement issued by the player, it was confirmed that Perišić will donate all prize money earned at the Poreč Major back to the Croatian volleyball federation.

Further information to follow on swatchmajorseries.com.

Perišić pictured with his Poreč Major jersey. Photo: Swatch Major Series