Daniel Pavlev from Triestina on the radar of Olimpija, Celje and Koper, praised by Rodolfo Vanoli: “He could even play in Serie A!”

Published on 26. November 2024 26. November 2024

Text: David Klemenc. Photo: Triestina Calcio

The championship match between Celjani and Ljubljančani is clearly extending to the transfer market. Both teams, Celje and Olimpija, are reportedly showing interest in a player who is not yet widely known by the local public, but this certainly does not diminish his quality and appeal. We are talking about Daniel Pavlev, who has rich experience from Italy, where he moved as a teenager after leaving his hometown of Nova Gorica and joining the former giant Chievo.

Daniel Pavlev’s Italian Story

Daniel Pavlev made his debut in Serie B during the 2020/21 season but moved to third-tier club Viterbese after Chievo’s bankruptcy. For the past year and a half, he has been playing successfully for the wealthy club from neighboring Italy, Triestino. Last season, when Triestina fought for promotion to Serie B, the 24-year-old Daniel Pavlev proved his versatility. Although primarily a right-back, he also excelled as an attacking midfielder and winger on both sides of the field.

This year, however, Triestina is in trouble. Despite high ambitions, the club is experiencing a difficult season, meaning Pavlev is getting fewer opportunities to prove himself. His contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he can sign a pre-contract with a new club as early as January. A stay in Trieste seems unlikely, as a major team overhaul is expected early in the year.

Olimpija and Celje on the lookout

In addition to some foreign clubs, especially Italian ones, Olimpija and Celje are reported to have shown interest in Pavlev. The Ljubljančani, who are dealing with injuries to Pedra Lucas and Alexa Blanca, as well as the possible departure of Raul Florucza, urgently need quality reinforcements. The same applies to Celje, where coach Albert Riera is working to build a competitive team for battles on all fronts. Celje has repeatedly proven that financial resources are not an obstacle, but they will struggle to keep a healthy Žan Karničnik, who is tempted by lucrative offers from abroad. Before his injury, Russia was frequently mentioned.

Acquiring a domestic player like Daniel Pavlev would be a triple win for both clubs: a quality reinforcement, a potential future sale, and an important signal to fans who appreciate Slovenian players in the team.

Interest from Koper too?

In addition to Celje and Olimpija, Koper is also said to have shown interest in Pavlev. After a successful deal with Triestina, when the club from Trieste brought top midfielder Omar Correio from Bonifika, the Serie C club is now “looking” at another member of the coastal club. Our reliable sources reveal that Triestina has sent an inquiry regarding the possible transfer of hot prospect Omar El Manssouri to their ranks. However, on the coast, it’s rumored that Koper’s president Ante Guberac just smiled when he heard the figure of around half a million euros… The question remains whether Guberac will want to sabotage his competitors and include former youth international Pavlev in the deal — one of the options currently on the table.

Expert Opinion

We also asked renowned expert Rodolfo Vanoli, former Koper coach and Slovenian football expert who now manages the Georgian top-tier club Samgurali Tsqaltubo, for his opinion on Pavlev.

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“Daniel Pavlev is an excellent player, often underrated. I think he would be a great addition to Celje or Olimpija. With the right support and opportunity, he could even make it to the national team. He can be used in almost any wide position, both forward and backward. He has strength, technique, and composure. If he had a well-known agent to push him forward, he could even be playing in Serie A today. The Slovenian league would help raise his value, which Olimpija has already proven this year,” said the 61-year-old Rodolfo Vanoli with resonating words.

Opportunity for a New Chapter

Although Daniel Pavlev currently wants to stay in Italy, at least for now, the prospect of playing in Europe, competing for trophies, and gaining more visibility in the eyes of national team coach Matjaž Kek are appealing opportunities that could attract him to Slovenia’s giants. January will show which club will seize the opportunity and add this versatile player to their team…