RALPH Hasenhuttl has recalled nearly signing deadline day addition Duje Caleta-Car back when he was manager of RB Leipzig, adding: “We meet each other again.”

The 25-year-old centre-back was the fourth and final Saints deal made on deadline day, totalling to the 10th summer signing in all.

Caleta-Car, who had been playing for French Ligue 1 side Marseille, formerly impressed for Leipzig’s Austrian sister team, Red Bull Salzburg.

He had made his way onto the shortlist for the Bundesliga outfit, who Hasenhuttl was steering towards Champions League qualification.

However, in January 2017, Hasenhuttl, who managed Leipzig between 2016-18, and the board instead opted to sign Caleta-Car’s Salzburg teammate, Dayot Upamecano.

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“I wanted to sign him one time for Leipzig when I was manager there. And we decided to go for Upamecano,” Hasenhuttl explained, referencing the now Bayern Munich and French star.

“Sometimes in football your paths are crossing and you meet each other again. I’m very happy to have him here.

"He’s a super character, a fantastic player and can give us a lot of stability in the future.”

Although Upamecano is now a six-cap international, Caleta-Car boasts 23 appearances for Croatia himself, including two at the European Championships last summer.

Caleta-Car is described as "physically very strong, stronger than other players," by former Saint Dejan Lovren. 

Manager Hasenhuttl added: “His long passing is very good. With the heading he is not so bad, especially defensively.

“He has very good positioning on the pitch and knows how we want to play with ball-orientated defending and this is helpful.”

Caleta-Car's squad role is not guaranteed, having to fend his way past Mohammed Salisu, 23, and Armel Bella-Kotchap, 20, who have already impressed in defence this season.

The Croatian, only 25-years-old himself, will add top level experience with matches in Champions League, Europa League and World Cup tournaments.

“This is the perfect age for a centre-back,” Hasenhuttl pondered, on Caleta-Car. “He’s played in more than two different countries.

“Now, he comes to the best league in the world which is a super big step but I think he is looking forward to helping this club and this is good.”

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