Mario Mandzukic said he is looking forward to playing for Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, after completing his move to the club for an undisclosed fee.
Mandzukic underwent a medical at a clinic in the Spanish capital on Thursday morning, before travelling across town to the Estadio Vicente Calderon to put pen to paper on a four-year contract with Los Colchoneros.
. @MARIOMANDZUKIC9 YA ES ROJIBLANCO. El croata firmó por 4 temporadas #BienvenidoMandzukic http://t.co/TXlhM5Kggd pic.twitter.com/mDoxcU0yjN
- Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti) July 10, 2014
The fee has not been confirmed by either club, but press reports in both Spain and Germany have suggested Atletico have paid around 22 million euros to sign the centre-forward.
The Croatia international, 28, looks set to be a direct replacement for last season's top scorer Diego Costa, who earlier this month joined Premier League side Chelsea, and will now be tasked with scoring the goals to help his new side retain the Primera Division trophy. He told Marca that he had previously enjoyed watching Simeone's side from afar and was now confident of having further success alongside them.
"I know quite a lot of things about Atletico," Mandzukic said. "I have seen various games and I like the team's style of play. The coach is very good, there are good players and I believe I can do good things with this team."
Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero told the Atletico website that he was sure Mandzukic's committed style of play would also fit in well at the Calderon.
"The incorporation of Mario Mandzukic is great news because he has the features we were looking for to cover this position," Caminero said. "He's a strong forward, with a great high ball control and a powerful shot. It allows us to start pressuring behind the rival from the beginning, because he works hard on playing the ball out of defence. He fits well with his attacking teammates and is used to competing at the highest level. He's a winner, a player used to win titles. He'll contribute very much."
Bayern executive board member Jan-Christian Dreesen said: "We'd like to thank Mario for two great years in Munich. In those two years we've won seven titles, and his goals were often deciding goals. We wish him all the best at his new club, both from a sporting and personal point of view."
Mandzukic has previously played for NK Zagreb, Dinamo Zagreb, Wolfsburg and Bayern, where in the last two seasons he has won a Champions League, European Super Cup, Club World Cup, two Bundesligas, two German Cups and a German Super Cup.
He has 15 goals in 52 games for his country, including two against Cameroon at the 2014 World Cup.