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Full Name: Martin Baturina
Date of Birth: February 16, 2003 (Age 21)
Place of Birth: Split, Croatia
Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Current Team: Dinamo Zagreb

Career Overview

An attacking midfielder

    Martin Baturina is a gifted young Croatian player who plays as an attacking midfielder for Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian Football League, also known as the HNL. He is the son of ex-Croatian international Mate Baturina and brother to Roko Baturina, who plays as a forward for the Spanish club Málaga CF. His football journey began at the academy of the local club Hajduk Split. His exceptional talent was evident at an early age and he soon moved to RNK Split and later Dinamo Zagreb II to continue his development.

    He made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb II on February 14, 2021 just two days before his 18th birthday. That same year, he made his debut for the senior team on May 16, 2021. Baturina continued to develop his skills and build his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders. He was part of the team that won consecutive league titles and cups in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons.

    Baturina made his Champions League debut on September 6, 2022 in a 1-0 win against Chelsea and scored his first goal for Dinamo on March 5, 2022 in a 3–0 victory over Šibenik. He earned his first senior cap on November 18, 2023 in a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Latvia.

HNL • Dinamo Zagreb • 2024-25

Matches Played

4

Assists

5

Goals

0

Strength

Attacking Midfielder

One of Baturina’s standout qualities is his exceptional vision. He has a remarkable ability to scan the field, anticipate movements and find pockets of space that other players often miss. His intelligence on the ball allows him to dictate the tempo of the game and orchestrate play from midfield.

He has a natural ability to play perfectly weighted passes, particularly when executing through balls. His sense of timing, combined with his technical proficiency, ensures that his passes consistently reach their intended targets, even under pressure. He’s technical ability is a joy to watch. His first touch is immaculate, allowing him to control the ball effortlessly, even in tight spaces.
Notable Attributes

Overlapping runs

Similar to his compatriot Luka Modrić, Martin Baturina has earned praise for his exceptional playmaking abilities. He possesses an innate talent for finding space and delivering key passes that lead to scoring opportunities. His vision on the field allows him to unlock defenses with ease, making him a vital asset to his team’s attacking plays. His ability to operate in tight spaces and his delicate first touch have also drawn admiration, as he can navigate even the most crowded midfield areas with confidence and precision.

Baturina’s fast feet and dribbling skills enable him to run at defenders, often beating midfielders and opening up space for more dangerous attacking opportunities. His quickness, combined with his sharp decision-making, makes him a constant threat in the final third.

Professional Journey

started at youth academy of Hajduk Split.

Martin Baturina’s football journey began at a young age in Croatia, where he initially joined the youth academy of Hajduk Split. His talent was evident early on, leading him to move to RNK Split’s youth setup in 2015. After honing his skills there, he caught the attention of Dinamo Zagreb, one of Croatia’s top clubs and joined their youth ranks in 2017. Baturina’s progression through Dinamo Zagreb’s system was swift. He advanced from the youth teams, moving to Dinamo Zagreb U17 in 2018, then to the U19 squad in 2020 where he continued to impress with his technical skills and football intelligence. His hard work and development earned him a spot in Dinamo Zagreb II by January 2021. On February 14, 2021 Baturina made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb II. Just a few months later, on May 16, 2021 he made his senior team debut for Dinamo Zagreb in a 3-0 victory against Gorica. 

Baturina has helped Dinamo Zagreb secure multiple honors, including back-to-back Prva HNL titles in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons and Croatian Super Cup victories in 2022 and 2023. Individually, he was recognized in the Football Oscar Team of the Year and named the Best Prva HNL U-21 player in 2023. 

His consistent performances at both club and international youth levels eventually led to his call-up to the Croatian senior national team in 2023 having previously played at different youth levels. 
Conclusion

excellent reader of the game

    Martin Baturina has already shown glimpses of brilliance, supported by his exceptional vision, passing, football IQ and technical ability. His strengths lie not only in his individual skills but also in his ability to make those around him better. As he continues to grow as a player, there’s little doubt that Baturina will attract even more attention from top clubs in Europe. With clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Fiorentina already circling, it’s only a matter of time before he secures a big-money move to one of Europe’s top teams. His strengths make him not just a player to watch, but one destined for greatness.

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