Martin Baturina

[tenpoless]

Sign him at all cost. Can't miss out on a CM potential anymore. Feck Frenkie, get Baturnia.

 

[Jim Beam]

I'm curious how can you know Modric was far better at the same age when he was playing in the croatian league as well. I'm not going to pretend I watched the croatian league, but it seems people followed Modric's career since his youngster years.

Am Croatian

 

[Real Name]

Sign him at all cost. Can't miss out on a CM potential anymore. Feck Frenkie, get Baturnia.

He's more of an AM actually, although he's somewhere between an 8 and a 10.

He's not massively overrated like one poster wrote in a page before, but on the other hand Modrić was better at his age which isn't a slight on him cause Modrić was a generational talent.
He needs a next step in his career and the next step is certainly a move abroad.
He has all the tools to be a great player imo.

 

[Jim Beam]

He's not massively overrated like one poster wrote in a page before, but on the other hand Modrić was better at his age which isn't a slight on him cause Modrić was a generational talent.

Pretty much this. With Modric I was sure he is gonna be great even at that age. Can't say the same with Baturina despite his potential. And it's not a slight on Baturina as you say.

I mean, Modric by the age of 21 had a solid case that he was already best Croatian midfielder and one of its best players. He was already the best player in the league and when he debuted for Croatia against Argentina (with young Messi) in 2006 he was among the best players on the pitch. I would argue that Kovacic also looked more talented than Baturina at the same age.

Does't mean that Baturina isn't a nice prospect. Am just not sure is he a prospect for those few, very top clubs. And no shame in that.

 

[Jim Beam]

We know already there will be a lot of fibs. I mean posting are mentioning volume passes like Modric wasn’t a winger at 21.

He wasn't

 

[Real Name]

Pretty much this. With Modric I was sure he is gonna be great even at that age. Can't say the same with Baturina despite his potential. And it's not a slight on Baturina as you say.

I mean, Modric by the age of 21 had a solid case that he was already best Croatian midfielder and one of its best players. He was already the best player in the league and when he debuted for Croatia against Argentina (with young Messi) in 2006 he was among the best players on the pitch. I would argue that Kovacic also looked more talented than Baturina at the same age.

Does't mean that Baturina isn't a nice prospect. Am just not sure is he a prospect for those few, very top clubs. And no shame in that.

Yeah, he could have a good career even if he doesnt end up at very top clubs. Comparisons with Modrić don't help him. I watched Luka at Dinamo and even then it was obvious how good he is. Also he got very few minutes at WC 2006 despite the fact he was ready even then to step up after a great debut season for Dinamo that season.

Baturina has some nice tools, nose for a goal, a good dribbling, and a pass, but sometimes he disappears when the game is tough. That's why I think he should move abroad and should be wise in choosing the next club.

 

[Real Name]

Modric wasn't always a winger. He played in midfield for Croatia before he joined Spurs. That's how I found out about him. Back then they had Srna as their captain.

He was never a winger. At Dinamo he played a LM in a 4-4-2 formation and I think at Spurs he played that position too at the start.

 

[diarm]

I'm not sure how willing I am to believe in a Croatian footballer whose name doesn't end in 'ic.

I'm sure they've existed, but Davor Suker aside, I don't want anything to do with them.

 

[Shabby as she goes]

How would he fit into our system?

Next year, Eriksen will be gone, but we still have Bruno, Mount and ZZ who can play 10.

We have Mainoo and Ugarte for CM. I don’t think he should replace either of them, and he’s probably too attacking to play with Mainoo. That means he will just the the rotation option for Mainoo

 

[Ekeke]

Correction, He evolved into a high volume passer over the past 3 years. Before that, he was a 60 to 65 passes a game player. He is quite different from Xavi. He didn't always have to have the ball to control games.

He averaged 62.5 passes in 10/11 and 70.4 in 11/12 for Spurs and just under 60 (57) from 2009-2024 on whoscored. 60 passes is more than enough for a volume passer.

You just brought up "high volume passer" which nobody was talking about.

 

[Real Name]

Saying all that, as far as Croatian players go, Luka Sučić is the one United should go for. Recently went to Socieadad, talented, modern CM who was main player at Salzburg already when he was just 19.

 

[Andycoleno9]

I'm curious how can you know Modric was far better at the same age when he was playing in the croatian league as well. I'm not going to pretend I watched the croatian league, but it seems people followed Modric's career since his youngster years.

As a Croatian, i watched Modric from day one. Baturina i am not watching much like i did with Modric (because i gave up from domestic league years ago) but from what i saw he is just another overhyped young player. Same as Vlašić, Halilović, Čorić and many, many others in last decade. Desperation to find another Modrić or Rakitić leads to huge PR over every talented midfielder in Croatia.
These days in Croatia, if you play for Hajduk or especially for Dinamo, all you need is a few good games and PR campaign starts.

Baturina has talent but he is way away from being some awesome, generational talent. He is a player for decent European side right now. And nothing more.

 

[Andycoleno9]

Saying all that, as far as Croatian players go, Luka Sučić is the one United should go for. Recently went to Socieadad, talented, modern CM who was main player at Salzburg already when he was just 19.

This. Sučić is the one.

 

[In Absentia]

Odd how defensive you are on this. It's clear as day that Modric at 21 wasn't the player we know him as today. Yet, this is a point of contention for you. Folk really will argue about anything.

You're right here. Modric wasn't a high volume passer at 21. He was often played on the left because he was considered a bit light even for a 10 (when he got to England). No shame in that though, seen as he did become higher volume in later years, and the football in was still oftenquite basic then.

- Guardiola took over Barca in 2008, I think. From what I remember, Modric came to England at that time, and it was mid-table Spurs. Had there ever been a ‘high volume passer’ (in the modern sense) at that time?

 

[Powderfinger]

I'm not sure how willing I am to believe in a Croatian footballer whose name doesn't end in 'ic.

I'm sure they've existed, but Davor Suker aside, I don't want anything to do with them.

This post makes Prosinecki and Boban sad.

 

[golden_blunder]

Are there any links to Man Utd?