Graham Potter might not have been convinced enough to bring a £21 million midfielder to West Ham United but, clearly, Premier League icon Cesc Fabregas did not share the same concerns as the man in the London Stadium dugout.
While West Ham United are prioritising Club Brugge enforcer Raphael Onyedika – an all-action, physically-imposing yet technically astute footballer capable of thriving in a variety of positions – the so-called ‘next Luka Modric’ found himself left by the wayside.
According to reports, Graham Potter had reservations about Martin Baturina.
While the Dinamo Zagreb playmaker is a footballer with ‘impeccable technique’, to quote Croatian publication Telesport, Baturina ‘has not yet worked on his weaknesses. The most notable of these is his defensive play, which is far below satisfactory’.
Potter, it is said, wanted greater athleticism from his summer signings.
So as he seals a move to Serie A instead – Cesc Fabregas’ Como have snapped up Baturina despite concerns last week that the deal was on the verge of collapse – the task facing the former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea superstar is to find a way to cover up Baturina’s off-the-ball weaknesses while providing him with the platform to do what he does best.
Martin Baturina during GNK Dinamo v AC Milan - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8
Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images
Cesc Fabregas’ Como sign Martin Baturina after West Ham United snub
Baturina signed a five-year deal with Como over the weekend.
After finishing tenth during their first top-flight campaign in over two decades, the ambitious Lombardy-based outfit sealed a record-breaking deal which could rise to £21 million.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Baturina may have big boots to fill, should he be tasked with replacing the talismanic Nico Paz. Real Madrid have a buy-back clause in the contract of the Fabrica graduate.
Fabregas is confident, however, that a footballer he may see a lot of himself in can prove his doubters wrong. Doubters which, for instance, cost him a potential switch to West Ham United.
“Martin is a player of immense quality,” Fabregas smiles while keen to defend his new signing’s much-criticised defensive output.
“He’s intelligent on the ball, strong in duels, and has the personality to make things happen in key moments. He fits exactly the kind of football we’re building here.”
Baturina ‘very happy’ with Serie A switch as West Ham eye Raphael Onyedika
After Como retained Fabregas’ services amid interest from Inter Milan, Baturina joins a squad containing former Barcelona utility man Sergi Roberto, ex-Lyon midfielder Maxence Caqueret, rising star Assane Diao, one-time Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno and a certain Dele Alli.
“I am very happy to be here in Como,” Baturina beams. “A team with a great project based in a beautiful city. I have spoken with the club and the coach, and I am really looking forward to starting this new experience and taking to the pitch in this shirt.”
As far as West Ham’s pursuit of a midfielder goes, Hammers News can confirm that Raphael Onyedika has been chosen by Kyle Macaulay, the club’s head of recruitment, as the primary target this summer.
Onyedika prefers the Premier League to Serie A despite interest from seven-time European champions AC Milan. And, as a representative of the CAA Stellar agency explains in conversation with Africa Foot, personal terms are not expected to pose much of an obstacle in West Ham’s pursuit of the £20 million-rated Nigeria international.