LaLiga Exclusive: Five facts you might not know about CA Osasuna's Ante Budimir

Ante Budimir. Pic Courtesy/ La Liga

The Croatian international joined CA Osasuna this past summer on loan from RCD Mallorca. His eight goals so far this season have been a big factor in the team's excellent season, wrapping up LaLiga Santander survival with weeks to spare.

1. Ante was born in the Bosnian city of Zenica in 1991 and grew up in Velika Gorica on the outskirts of the Croatian capital Zagreb. He started playing football at the age of six and it was here in his hometown where he began his career, with local side NK Radnik Velika Gorica.

2. He scored on his LaLiga Santander for Osasuna, against Atletico de Madrid no less. He came on with just over 20 minutes to go and scored with twelve minutes to go. His goal wasn't enough to avoid a 3-1 defeat, but he clearly set out his stall.

3. Five of his eight goals (63%) this season have been headers. This stat makes him LaLiga Santander's second-most prolific header, just one goal behind Real Madrid's Karim Benzema who leads the way with six.

4. Ante combines his professional football career with his studies. He is studying for an Economics degree, something he began back in Croatia encouraged by his sisters.

5. His nicknames include the ‘Swan of Zenica' and the ‘Alchemist.' ‘Swan' refers to his elegance on the pitch and with the ball at his feet, as well as his physique: tall and thin, over 6ft tall and 75kg in weight. ‘Alchemist,' on the other hand, refers to his goalscoring instinct and his ability to find the back of the net. The name was first used by RCD Mallorca fans, who were in awe of his ability to transform the football ‘into gold' and make the most of every play.

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