Is Kristian Opseth the man to consign Adelaide United’s number nine-sized woes to the past? Bruce Djite certainly believes so.
The Norwegian striker signed a one-year deal with the Reds on Wednesday and arrives in Adelaide with an impressive strike rate of 98 goals in 181 matches in his senior career.
It is no secret the Reds have long been crying out for a reliable source of goals in the central striking position.
ADELAIDE UNITED: Ins, Outs & Squad for Hyundai A-League 2019/20
PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: Five-star Reds fire against Raiders
And the club’s Football Director Djite – who used to fire them in as a player for the Reds – is confident they have the right man for the job, both on and off the pitch.
“I spoke to Kristian on the phone and his agent as well to get a feel for the character, the individual,” Djite explained.
Feature image courtesy of Adelaide United on Twitter
Officially, official.#AUFC #WelcomeKristian
? Read more: https://t.co/MCo12XFYQp pic.twitter.com/4cylgMKAGZ
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) July 31, 2019
“And I’ve got a pretty good radar when it comes to the character of an individual. Kristian seemed like he’d be a perfect fit not just on the field but off the field as well.
“I’ve had one-on-ones with all the players and a lot of feedback has been about how good the group is, how tight knit it is, the culture, the family atmosphere that they’ve got within the team and the dressing room.
Djite added: “Looking at how the team went last year and what the club needed, it was clear that we needed a striker. Not any striker but a very talented one.
“He’s played a lot of games, he’s scored a lot of goals quite consistently especially the last three or four years.”
Opseth, who is the first Norwegian player to ply his trade in the Hyundai A-League, most recently played in Turkey’s Super Lig with Erzurum BB.
Keen for a new challenge away from Europe, Opseth said he researched coach Gertjan Verbeek and Adelaide United when he first learned of their interest.
PLAY LIKE AJAX: Verbeek’s ambitious target for Adelaide
PRE-SEASON WRAP: Bruno bags first Glory goal, Jets fightback against Wanderers
And everything he found ticked the boxes to make the move happen.
“The league is a high intensity, it’s an improving league and it just sounded right to me,” he said.
“It was a chance I felt was a good one for me right now and I’m really looking forward to getting started.
“I would say I’m mainly a box player in and around the box, trying to get into positions to score the goals,” Opseth added.
“I would say that’s my biggest strength as well to be in the right places and to put the ball in and I have a good left foot.”
