Ante Palaversa is probably the teammate who has been least surprised with the way Pape Habib Gueye has transformed his fortunes at Aberdeen.
The striker has been a major player for Jimmy Thelin’s Dons and has netted six goals in his last five games. It has been some turnaround for the Senegalese star who had struggled for game time last season and his days looked to be numbered before he was sent for his transformative loan to Norwegian side Kristiansund.
He has returned a different player and is looking like the player Palaversa watched kick into life in their spell together at Belgian side Kortrijk in Belgium. Palaversa confirmed: “I played with Pape in Belgium and we had a really good half a season there. Then Pape got injured, the coach (Luka Elsner) went to Standard Liege and we went down a little bit in the league.
“But that half year we played really good football. Pape is a really good player and I am so happy for him that he is scoring goals and playing really well.
“He was playing at that level when we were in Belgium, around three years ago. I’m not surprised he is scoring now as Pape is a really good player. He will continue like this.”
Palaversa didn’t court Gueye’s advice before he moved to Aberdeen but knew it would be good to have an old familiar face in the Pittodrie dressing room. “I didn’t speak to Pape before I came here,” he admitted. “When I was sure I would get the move to Aberdeen I checked the team and then I realised he was there.”
Croatian midfielder Palaversa has a proven track record. Manchester City paid big-money to sign him from Manchester City. Things didn’t work out for him there with Pep Guardiola’s stars and most of his time at City out on loan with spells at Hajduk Split, Oostende, Getafe and Kortrijk. He moved on to Troyes but didn’t get the game time he craved and so decided to take his chance at Aberdeen. The Dons have signed him for this season and with the option of another two years after that.
Palaversa is ambitious and wants to get back to the level he was at when he was at Manchester City. For the moment, his concentration is on getting games and making his mark at Aberdeen. He stated: “At present I am here and trying to be as good as I can be to help the team, then we will see after.”
The 24-year-old is quickly getting up to match sharpness. He made his first start in the win over Motherwell with captain Graeme Shinnie missing through illness. The Croat kept the starting jersey for the Premier Sports Cup win over Spartans where he really impressed and had his best game in an Aberdeen shirt. He will be hoping for the chance to make it three starts on the bounce as Aberdeen look to make it 12 wins at Dundee on Saturday. He confidently predicted: “I can bring quality passes and composure and try to help my team-mates.”
Palaversa has a double aim at Aberdeen. He wants to get his career back on track and would love to lift his first piece of senior silverware. Aberdeen certainly have the chance. They are in the semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup where they will face Celtic at the start of November at Hampden.
He confirmed: “(I have won) Nothing in my senior career. Every player wants to win trophies.”
If he can help Aberdeen to lift their first trophy since 2014 then it would be a major achievement and assure him of legendary status in the Granite City.