Who is Martin Baturina? The 'new Luka Modric' wanted by Man Utd and Real Madrid

Suraj Radia

• 19 Sept 2024 20:00 BST
• 6 min read

Being a midfielder from Dinamo Zagreb, it would always be hard for a youngster to avoid comparisons to Luka Modric but the tag is well-suited to Croatian wonderkid Martin Baturina.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a star for Dinamo, playing more than 120 games in the heart of their midfield and breaking into the Croatian national team in 2023.

Baturina’s displays have led to substantial interest from around Europe, with Manchester United believed to be among his biggest admirers for a transfer to the big stage.

But just who is Baturina and why does he deserve the hype of being the next Modric? FootballTransfers takes a look at Croatia’s latest superstar.

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What position does Martin Baturina play?

Baturina is primarily an attacking midfielder who is capable of featuring deeper as a playmaker, while also having experience out wide on the flanks too.

How good is Martin Baturina?

Baturina initially came through the academy of Hajduk Split before eventually going on to join rivals Dinamo as a 14-year-old, which saw him feature through in Croatia’s youth teams from the under-15s and beyond.

The youngster made two appearances for Dinamo’s senior side at the back end of the 2020/21 season, having been an important member of the reserve team as an 18-year-old.

After a season of playing a bit-part role for the first team, Baturina went on to play in 34 of Dinamo’s 36 league games during his breakout year in the 2022/23 campaign, grabbing six goals and 13 assists.

Baturina was praised for his playmaking skills and close ball control, as well as his movement and versatility in attack, leading Dinamo to their 18th league title in 19 seasons.

After continuing his good form into the 2023/24 season, Baturina received his first senior cap for Croatia against Latvia and has gone onto become a regular since, even being selected for their Euro 2024 squad.

Baturina’s emergence saw him win the 2023 Football Oscar Best under-21 player award in 2023 and has led to scouts from all over Europe travelling to Croatia to watch him play.

Man Utd’s scouts reportedly have watched Baturina numerous times at the start of the 2024/25 season after four assists in his first five appearances of the year.

Baturina has also played no less than six times in the Champions League, although he has yet to find his feet in Europe’s premier competition, losing 9-2 to Bayern Munich on his first start in September 2024.

What clubs are interested in Martin Baturina?

Man Utd have ‘positioned themselves as front runners’ to sign Baturina, according to numerous reports in 2024, with the Red Devils looking to beat the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal to his signature.

Teams such as Leeds and Fiorentina have previously approached Baturina but the youngster has seemingly held out for a big transfer to a major side, which he is expected to make in 2025.

When does Martin Baturina’s contract expire?

Baturina signed a new contract with Dinamo upon his breakthrough to the first team, tying him down to the club until June 30th 2028.

How old is Martin Baturina?

Baturina was born on February 16th 2003, making him 21 as of September 2024.

What is Martin Baturina’s Instagram?

Baturina’s Instagram handle is @martinbaturina and he has 42,000 followes as of September 2024.