Written by Matt Pocrnić (@crotalentscout2 on X)
Martin Baturina will join Como 1907 for a €22 million fee (around $25 million). He’s set to sign a five-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2030, per Fabrizio Romano.
He’ll be joining Petar Sučić in Italy, but this time they’ll be on opposite sides. The 22-year-old midfielder is coming off a strong season with Dinamo Zagreb. While the club went trophyless, Baturina still recorded 6 goals and 12 assists in 45 matches across all competitions.
After years of being linked to top clubs across Europe, Baturina is joining an ambitious Como side led by Spanish legend Cesc Fàbregas. After returning to Serie A, Como finished 10th last season, and it’s clear they have bigger goals next season.
He’ll also join up with fellow Croatian Ivan Smolčić at Como.
It’s not the transfer many expected a couple of years ago, but this could be a great move for his development. A rising club in a tactical, competitive league might be exactly what he needs.
Is a duo Vuskovic backfield possible in 2028? I assume Mario will never bounce back. What a shame.
lol
Krama just t-bagged Luka S and his tiny dinghy
He posted on IG himself jumping off a MASSIVE yacht
Message: take your dinghy and 1.7 career earnings and suck on my 30+ and massive big-boy yacht
Mad respect to Krama – the best thing I’ve seen him do ever
Chivu has intention to sign other midfielders..i am not sure if sucic will have chance to be in starting 11..the transfer was decided by inzaghi..hopefully sucic can win a place
I thought Luka Sucic showed some great potential with his play this year for Sociedad. He was slowed a little with an injury part way through, and he was still adapting to the team, but he was truly excellent in some games. One of the issues was consistency, game in and game out. But when he played well, he was an impact player for Sociedad. His name became associated with Real and Manchester United as the season went along, with his play he was attracting interest from some big teams.That also caused a bit of controversy.
The talent seems to be there with all three of our highest rated next generation midfielders: Sucic, Sucic, Baturina.
The question with L. Sucic and Baturina probably does come down to mental fortitude and work ethic. And I can’t say Anonymous is wrong about that when I watch Baturina. When you look at a guy like Perisic, he was not that highly ranked at their age, he had solid potential but I don’t think he was projected to be as good as he eventually became. What was the intangible?. . . Perisic just has the heart of a champion, a commitment, a mental toughness that even allowed him to come back at his age from that knee injury. Was he born with that or did he find it along the way? I don’t know. Maybe a bit of both.
My impression (yes, just an impression, I might be wrong) is that Petar Sucic and Luka Vuskovic both already display some of that, some of that Perisic/Modric quality, the heart and attitude of a champion.
I’m not sure if Luka Sucic and Baturina have shown they have enough of that quality just yet. But playing alongside Modric and Perisic on the national team will help (in that regard it was disappointing Luka Sucic was not there with the squad to participate in the big win over Czechia) and I like how things line up for both of them next season with Sociedad and Como. I suppose we will probably know a lot more as we move through next season…
As for another prospective midfielder some of us had high hopes for this season, he had a complete flop in the Austrian League. Here is a recent article on Lovro Zvonarek’s awful season in the Austrian League. Hopefully the link works.
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2025/6/10/24445713/lovro-zvonarek-bayern-munich-loan-sturm-graz-champions-league-slaven-belupo-nk-osijek-thomas-tuchel
What would be the best move for Zvonarek next year? Should he come back and play in the HNL?
And does anyone have a comment on Leon Jakirovic? What is the potential there?
Some crazy numbers being thrown out there for Franjo Ivanović
Rijeka did a great job in failing to attach a future sale clause on there.
Could have made some serious money.
30m would be the 3rd highest departure transfer ever in Belgium (!) and more than they got for Victor Boniface (22.6m) a couple years ago who almost went to Saudi for 70m in Jan
What’s really funny is Promise David and Franjo had same # of goals
Union have a 15m ask on Promise David (received 8m offer from Besiktas)
And 30m ask on Franjo Ivanovic (received 20m from Sporting, but there are multiple clubs wanting to buy him)
I know Franjo is two years younger – but they must REALLY rate him and want to keep him (and there must be several clubs trying to buy him)
This is the positive halo effect of the Croatian NT – everyone knows if you start getting regular call-ups (while the old guard is still around and you’re not playing at Dinamo) that you must be very good
All these offers are great, but for sake of NT, the best might be to stay at USG and guaranteed to start in the Champions League, if he goes to Sporting and we end up with another Musa/Benfica situation that will be a DISASTER for the NT
If Sporting actual pay 30 million for him, then he’s starting.
Sporting already sold their Swedish striker, and they want a replacement with a high ceiling. Ivanović makes sense.
But I don’t really care if he leaves or not because USG has Champions League football and Ivanović is already settled and locked in there.
Since we’re only a year out from the World Cup, I wouldn’t want to see too many of our key players transitioning to new teams.
Petar Sučić, Baturina and Modrić are with new clubs… with potentially Vušković, Perišić, Livaković and Ivanović too.
Anonymous….full time employment and transitioning from your mother’s basement to your own flat will do wonders for your soul.
It will keep you occupied and there might be a slight chance we won’t have to view your constant verbal diarrhea!
BREAKING
Apparently the Baturina Como medical not going well
Through biomarker testing, Como Drs have determined Bati is missing the gene associated with high work rate, stamina and ability to track back defensively
Why didn’t DZ Doctors pick this up???
Unreal
Haha! Comment of the day.
Luka Sucic missed the match against Czechia in Osijek for personal reasons i.e. sister’s wedding. Reports suggest that Dalic was not happy, and Sucic could be missing from the squad list come September qualifiers?
Few years back DCC got married on a weekend when the national team was also playing, as punishment Dalic did not call him up for the next two years.
Apparently according to reports Modric’s sister had to change her wedding dates three times so that Luka could attend.
24 sata published an article last weekend
Apparently Erlic (and another player – maybe Sosa?) both missed their siblings weddings so they could play for the NT
I think Jura was given special permission before the last Euro’s (?) to do his wedding – but it was quick one at the court house just him and wife – and immediately flew back the next day (no guests, no family, etc)
Where did you read about DCC ?
It’s these Gen Z are too entitled thinking the world revolves around them
Who gets married on a Monday anyway? If you can’t afford a weekend wedding and need to do on Monday, than you can move it to Tuesday or Wednesday
He’s been disappointing anyways – I know Maminjo is enamoured with his ability to shoot once or twice a game (and him winning goal of the season in LaLiga), but you need to do more to be a regular fixture in the Croatian midfield
Dalic first said at the press conference – that Sucic is missing because of “club commitments” – maybe Sucic lied to him why he needed to leave? Maybe that’s what has Dalic really pissed off (that he left under false pretences)
There was an article in SN a couple of days ago.
I recall the DCC thing being a vacation that he took (not him getting married).
If you’re putting a pre-booked vacation ahead of National Team duty then that’s pretty bad.
What reports are suggesting all this?
***.24sata.hr/sport/luka-sucic-fotkom-s-ljetovanja-poslao-poruku-zbog-sestrina-je-vjencanja-napustio-vatrene-1057100
Think Mart mis-read/spoke – Mart ?
DCC missed his sister’s wedding (but that was to sit on the bench for A-team vs. Bulgaria and than being sent down to U21s by Cacic (lol))
So the 2 years is DCC was p*ssed (probably bc of being sent to U21s), some pressure from Marseille (?), and Grecan (U21 coach) saying DCC was too tried to call up?
Also mentions, Dalic came back after he buried his dad to coach the team (article doesn’t mention – but should – that our BELOVED SRNA’s died during the Turkey game at the Euros and Srna came back to captain the team vs. Czech (when Subasic had to console him during the National Anthem))
These Gen Z just have a different mindset
Anonymous also laughs the reporter is trying to big up the dinghy that it’s some Abramovich-type yacht
Be in a qualifying group of 5, rather than 4, seems like a longer row to hoe.
At the very least, there are more chances for an injury to take place, during a schedule of 8 games rather than 10.
I guess this has always been the situation?
No
The teams in groups of 4 are playing the same # of games
They just have to play two friendlies instead
E.g. England – they just played Senegal (friendly) and will play Wales in October (friendly) during the same International windows
So they will play the same # of games i.e. 10
But will England play their first 11 for these games? And while those who would not normally start will play balls to the wall to impress their coach, other starters may take a break, as well as being substituted earlier than in a truly competitive game.
At least we have Faroe Islands and Gilbralter as essentially in intensity level, 4 friendlies.
Just hope for the best..we dont have many quality midfielders moving to italy..we cannot afford another star midfielder screwing up in italy.
Hope its not another coric, balic, rog.
Our best players don’t usually go to Italy.
Petar Sucic and Martin Baturina are the first pair of decent players who went to Serie A from the HNL in a very long time.
There seem to be a lot of our B caliber players that are in Italy (who rarely if ever get capped).
There are 15 Croatian players in Serie A, but only Sucic, Baturina, and Pasalic get regular starts for us (with Pongracic, Sosa, Vlasic, and Moro being fringe/backups). The rest are just randoms.
Talented Croats like Gvardiol, Vuskovic, Sutalo, seem to just be going everywhere else.
We really need Baturina and Sucic to succeed. I’m more confident in Sucic, but hopefully Baturina surprises us all.
Inter CWC:
Jun 17 9pm EDT Monterrey
Jun 21 3pm EDT Urawa Red Diamond
Jun 25 9pm EDT Red Plate
*River Plate
Mark it on the calendar:
Dec 7, 2025 Inter vs. Como
Apr 12, 2026 Como vs. Inter
Per Fabrizio
Bati lost 3 in value in 12 hours lol
🤦♂️
Final deal 17+5+no sell on
If Pero sold by Inter for >55
Than
Pero € to DZ > Bati € to DZ (and Anonymous will be right)
Would be interesting to know if either/both have € release clauses (we’ll probably eventually find out)
Petar Sucic is the safe bet to have a good career but Baturina has the higher upside. Whether he reaches it is questionable but learning from Faregas who really wanted him can only help one would think.
I don’t know anything about como outside of renting a villa there a few times. They actually have a direct flight to zadar which was meaningful in my younger days but has become irrelevant since flying private.
Overall if baturina made a move where he is actually going to play rather than be bought like a dime a dozen by some big team and then immediately loaned out, i think he made the right choice. So many of these guys get buried in benches and especially in Italy. It wouldn’t surprise me of petar sucic becomes petar s-ne-uci-c as he never enters the game rather than play in a crucial development year
Petar will start for Inter.
He’s a more modern box to box midfielder who is more easily integrated into any offense.
Highly technical midfielders (like Baturina) where dribbling and creativity is their bread and butter… need to be careful when picking a club.
We all see how good a young Majer was (leading most offensive statistical categories in France, behind only Messi)…then the following season his team shifts their playing style requiring him to run, and then he ends up on the bench.
Baturina likely received guarantees from Cesc that he will be a focal point in their offense, which is great news.
I think both Baturina and Sučić will be young starters in Serie A which is great for the National Team.
On merit 100% agree re: Pero, but there is an issue
Inzaghi (who bought him) has left to Saudi and Chivu has come in
There is always a risk when new manager comes in
Chivu basically has no coaching experience: 14 games at Parma this yr (previously coaching Inter junior teams)
He will want to prove himself, as such, might default to relying on more “established” (older) players and less likely to give youth a chance
He only has a 2 year contract and probably will want to take as little risk as possible to keep his job for as long as he can
Pero will have to be outstanding in training and hopefully gets a chance at the CWC (but again big $$$ is on the line)
Anonymous has a theory why Pero was a bit anonymous during GIB first half and during Czech – it was either bc he snuck out to Martina Sucic’s wedding on Sunday (and was a bit hungover) or more likely, Dalic told him make sure you don’t get injured during these games, as we need you to be a starter for Inter and there is a new manager now (Inzaghi left a couple days before GIB game)
Anyone who watched the Cro matches this past weekend, saw that Petar Sucic was far from anonymous.
Also, it is Inzaghi who was more likely to default to playing older veteran players. He kept starting 36 year-old Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu while having younger guys on the bench.
It wasn’t a slight against Pero (at all)
Was comparing to his Croatian All-Time Record (!) of running in one match during the France NL game, G & A vs. Poland, etc
In GIB he seemed to be playing c.80% of max, in Czech 90% of max – the other games he has been playing at 100%
We didn’t need to risk Pero at 100% to injury (and derail his start at Inter) we need to back-solve to have Pero at 100% at the WC (that’s what matters) so he needs a proper pre-season prep at Inter, to give him the best chance, of establishing himself
Here you on Inzaghi – but doesn’t that kind of prove my point ? He wanted Pero to join in January (but DZ wanted to keep him for the season) so he had to start the geriatrics because he had no confidence in the existing youth ? That suggest, Pero joining, would have an opening to take over from one of the geriatrics (and would be above existing youth they have, as none were good enough to take over this season)
Don’t think we can make a relative vs. Chivu comparison – he has only coached 14 games – so we have no idea what he’s about – but based on his own personal incentives and need to prove himself to keep his job he’ll want to take as little risk as possible in terms of playing players – that doesn’t mean Pero won’t play (I think he will) but there is more risk (e.g. if Pero profile doesn’t match his set-up/formation he likes to play)
Interesting post Maminjo. Majer is the one that is surprising to me, even before his injury his form was dipping a bit. He really was incredible for Rennes, but all of sudden things have changed for him after a certain point. Even at Wolfsburg he is barely noticeable.
I wonder what the cause of this is? Is it that he cannot fit the roles the teams need? I really see him as an attacking mid more than anything else. When he was utilized in Rennes for this purpose he was excelling. Maybe it’s as you say he doesn’t fit the box to box midfielder role. I feel like Dalic keeps placing him in that role which doesn’t make sense if that is the case. If utilized I would have thought he would play in the middle of the front three behind the striker. He isn’t a supporting striker, but he is a decent attacking mid. He is very crafty on the final third I think.
If you think we’re raving about Vuskovic
See Invert the Wing on X
He’s predicting that under Thomas Frank Vuskovic is going to break the single season record for most goals by a CB in the PL, ever
Wow
dude certainly is a specimen..
wouldn’t bet against that prediction at all
Vušković is pretty much Haaland if he played CB
so Barcelona wants Perisic if news is true…yet Madrid does not want their legend Modric? come on now
Hopefully there is a reason the physicals for Milan are delayed until ater Club World Cup
Btw Fabregas has a minority stake in Como – in got this in lieu of a large salary when joined as a player – Anonymous mentioned as we all like to make fun of Modric wasting € to buy a stake in Swansea (Anonymous included !) – but its entirely possible he paid nothing and got equity in exchange for his endorsement, advisory, etc services (also in lieu of salary)
Perhaps Truth can get one of his analysts to pull a bunch of precedents to reiterate (ie examples of minority stakes with no cash/asset contribution up front)
Either way, he’s investing his time into this (that he could invest back home).
Maybe he’s been reading too many Ryan Reynolds Wrexham articles online.
How long can these “matter of fact” normal victories, for normal strong soccer countries persist. This is not the Croatian way. Do I dare cancel my appointment with my cardiac doctor. Feels like the calm stillness, before for an earthquake.
So many like Marco P on the right wing. Put me in that fan club.
@The truth2
The comments went down when the moderators really cleaned up the mess of trolls and other pretenders.
I admit, I fell into the trap of trolls and was not helping the cause due to retirement boredom.
So even I had to suck it up for many months until I could post without moderation.
In all honest it was a good lesson in humility and now I only post when, I’m really passionate about a topic.
That being said, my only 2 cents regarding the last two games, is crossing the ball.
The only tactics that really changed is we finally decided to cross it in instead of tiki taka against a bunker team.
For all that is holy, I can’t for the life of me understand why weren’t throwing in crosses. Every team does it from the top to Minnows at the bottom.
Even Czechs first goal was only from a cross.
I believe many of us have argued this over the years, if you can’t penetrate the wall then lob it in.
Once we were able to go up one or two, the game just exploded open for us.
My only wish list, is Marco P on the right side to help Ivan not with the switch of play and even more opportunities for youth.
Lastly, I can’t for the life me understand why Budimir is so much better in LaLiga, it reminds me of Boksic but at least Allan’s knees were shot.
I think Boksic was awesome but had terrible tournament luck. We all still wonder how ’96 and ’98 might’ve gone had he been able to play in them.
Math lesson starts
Pero 14+2.5+10% sell-on
Bati 18+7+no sell-on
If Inter sell Petar Sucic for >85
Than
Pero DZ transfer fee > Bati DZ transfer fee
Math lesson ends
I feel like this Croatia non drama winning is bad for Croatian sports business
After a loss, you usually see a 100+ comments.
Croatia just cruised through its most important game in years and essentially locked in a World Cup birth in the home countries of most of the Croatiansports.com followers (us and Canada) and we get 38 comments.
Just like msnbc profits when they have term to cover, cs thrives off the nts drama
Although I’m guessing ante would rather take the wins
“If it bleeds, it leads”
Don’t worry. Wait until we lose 0-1 to Crna Gora in Podgorica off a fluke deflected own goal from a corner in added time. Then all the usual suspects will come back on line saying that Dalic is the worst coach ever in the history of the HNS and he must resign immediately. It’s just the way of things.
The criticism isn’t based off of fluke losses.
It’s based off of performance.
We were eliminated in the group stage at the Euros, and (after playing terribly in the Nations League group stage) we were beaten by Scotland that (luckily) VAR incorrectly bailed us out on and allowed us to progress.
If this past weekend against Gibraltar and Czech is the turning point, and Dalic turning the fortunes of the team, then that’s good and I hope it is true.
But if we were to suddenly play very poorly from Sept to Nov during our remaining qualifiers, it doesn’t matter if a fluke Montenegrin goal does us in. It’s the play and the struggling that matters, because we cannot go into a World Cup tournament playing the way we did at Euro2024 and UNL.
He is 10-15 Lbs overweight from reaching full potential