"I spoke to Edy (Reja) and invited him to come; I told him I would give him my place immediately should he really decide to come to Slovenia. Not even the president was informed of that," Srečko Katanec joked when asked about his opinion at the press conference. He had no idea about the speculation spreading from Bergamo until the end of the Sunday match Slovenia – Turkey (0:1). The public relations representative of the Football Association of Slovenia Matjaž Krajnik reacted immediately, and explained: "The president Aleksander Čeferin learned the news from media, and was equally surprised. There's nothing to it!"
Rai placed Reja to the Slovenian bench
At the end of the week the rumour on changes at the Slovenian national team was made more substantial by the leading Italian sport daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport and the public TV station Rai. On Saturday the Gazzetta wrote that Reja had received an offer for taking over as the Slovenian coach, and on Sunday Rai on 230th TTX page, where news on Atalanta club are updated daily, the news was published: "Everything is ready for the transfer of Gian Pier Gasperini to Atalanta, as he agreed with Genoa for termination of contract. At the beginning of next week it should become official that Edy Reja will join the Slovenia's team, and thus say good bye to Atalanta after a successful season."
Katanec learned the news from TV Slovenija
Katanec, visibly in a good mood, couldn't hide the smile. He explained: "I have just heard on TV Slovenija about that. I have no problem with that. I am not fighting for material gain here. If the Association believes to have found a better man, they should bring him here. I won't cause them any problems." Katanec told the same to Urban Laurenčič:"I don't know anything about it. But I mean what I say – if the Association is hunting him, and they manage to bring him here, I am willing to step down immediately and give him my place."
Edy Reja of Slovenian origin last Sunday participated at the traditional charity event in Vipolže, focused on cherries and football. At the occasion of the festivities in the Goriška Brda hills he confirmed that he would not remain the coach of Atalanta.

The Slovenian national football team on Sunday lost the friendly match against the national team of Turkey in Stožice. The decisive goal was scored by Burak Yilmaz. It was the last test for the Slovenian team before the start of the September qualification series for the 2018 World Championship. The qualification series for the Slovenian national team will start with a match abroad, in Lithuania (September 4). The other national teams in the group are England, Scotland, Slovakia, and Malta.