Manchester United have reportedly added Como winger Martin Baturina to their summer shortlist following his exploits against England.
The 23-year-old is a Hajduk Split youth product who made the switch to their blood rivals, Dinamo Zagreb, and went on to become a key player for the reigning Croatian champions. His former coach, Ante Cacic, hailed him as an ‘extraordinary talent’.
Last summer, Baturina joined Como on a €18 million deal. His six league goals and three assists helped Cesc Fabregas’ band achieve their first-ever Champions League qualification, as he cemented himself as one of the best revelations in Serie A.
Martin Baturina lands on Man United shortlist
Thanks to his exploits on the shores of Lake Como, Croatia’s head coach Zlatko Dalic called up Baturina for the World Cup and handed him a starting role in the opening matchday against England.
While the Checkered Ones suffered a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Harry Kane and company, Baturina was able to walk away with his head held high after a memorable debut in the tournament, crowned by an astonishing second for the temporary 1-1 draw.
According to Sky Sport Italia, the winger’s performance in Dallas earned him more suitors. The source claims Man Utd and Aston Villa are both interested in the Croatian international, joining Leeds United and Bayern Munich, who have already enquired about him.
However, the Italian report warns that a big investment will be required to lure the Zurich native away from Como, who already turned down a €50 million offer.
Why Baturina is different from Man Utd’s other left-wing targets
Last season, Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick admitted that his squad could do with an additional right-footed left winger who can vie with Matheus Cunha for a starting role.
Patrick Dorgu emerged as an alternative, but the left-footed Dane remains an unusual option for this particular role.
Man Utd are reportedly planning to make room for a new arrival on the flanks by finding Marcus Rashford a new club following Barcelona’s snub.
Yan Diomande, Iliman Ndiaye, and Crysienco Summerville had emerged as the main options for the role, but Baturina is an interesting addition to the shortlist.
Percentiles Prog carries Dribbles cmp NPG npxG +xA Assists Key passes Crosses cmp Minutes
Martin Baturina 66.0 42.0 83.6 86.9 62.0 96.4 81.0 1721
Crysencio Summerville 71.3 77.7 52.7 61.5 24.2 19.2 31.8 2707
Yan Diomande 96.4 95.2 93.3 86.9 86.0 93.6 55.6 2672
Iliman Ndiaye 70.8 69.4 32.8 38.0 37.5 53.0 28.5 3044
(Stats via DataMB)
The Croatian might not be a speed demon like the others, but he makes up for it with his neat touch, sublime crosses and clever passing. After all, he is originally an attacking midfielder, but was moved to the left wing to accommodate the immensely talented Nico Paz in Cesc Fabregas’ 4-2-3-1 system.
However, it should be noted that Como, despite their modest pedigree, are owned by Indonesia’s Hartono Family, making them one of the wealthiest clubs in Italian football. Therefore, the Lariani might be able to resist an onslaught, at least if the player isn’t pushing for an exit.
Michel is a football journalist based in Beirut who has been passionately following Man United for over 20 years. He is a Law graduate and a member of the Beirut Bar Association. In addition to writing for Utd Report, he is also the Head Writer for The Laziali has been a Featured Writer on other websites including Juve FC, and The Cult of Calcio, and Stretty News.
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