Croatian international Iva Rožić is being linked with a move from Cosenza to Pallanuoto Trieste ahead of next season, in what would be another significant step in the career of one of Europe’s most exciting young players.
The 21-year-old joined Cosenza before the 2025/26 season after playing for Mladost Zagreb, where she had already established herself as one of the standout names in Croatian women’s water polo. No official confirmation has yet been made, but the possibility of Rožić moving to Trieste is understood to be gathering attention in the Italian transfer market.
Rožić’s first season in Italy has only strengthened her reputation. Cosenza finished fifth in the regular season before meeting Trieste in the playoff quarter-finals, while the Croatian attacker also played an important role in the club’s European success. In March, Cosenza won the Women’s Conference Cup, beating Sant Feliu 14–13 in a dramatic final, with Rožić scoring four goals in the title match.
Her domestic form was also eye-catching. Croatian media highlighted her nine-goal performance in Cosenza’s 24–9 win over Bogliasco at the end of the regular season, a match in which she and Nikki Meijer combined for 20 of Cosenza’s 24 goals. After that game, Rožić said the performance gave the team confidence and showed what Cosenza could do when playing with courage, discipline and team spirit.
Before moving to Italy, Rožić had already been one of the leading figures in Croatian water polo. With Mladost, she helped the Zagreb club win the Croatian championship in 2025, scoring seven goals in the decisive final match against Jadran Split. The Croatian Water Polo Federation described her as the player who marked the national championship and noted that she had been named Croatia’s best female water polo player for the 2024 calendar year.
A move to Trieste would represent a major addition for Paolo Zizza’s side. Trieste have been one of Italy’s most consistent women’s teams in recent seasons and know Rožić well, having faced Cosenza several times during the 2025/26 campaign. Club media had already identified the Croatian international’s attacking initiatives as one of Cosenza’s main threats before their playoff meetings.
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