Squawka explained why European giants are monitoring Martin Baturina
Martin Baturina finished his first season in Italy's Serie A with a return that significantly exceeded what the fact that he started only 17 matches might suggest. The Croatian midfielder appeared in 29 league matches for Como, played approximately 1,570 minutes and scored six goals while providing three assists, according to Opta Analyst data. However, it is precisely the statistics that do not always appear in match summaries that best explain why clubs from the European elite are monitoring him. In a detailed tactical analysis, Squawka highlighted his ability to create chances, resistance to pressure, control of the ball in tight spaces and adaptability to different midfield roles. According to that analysis, Baturina created 3.6 chances per 90 minutes in the 2025/26 season, with only Paulo Dybala recording a better figure in the whole of Serie A, averaging 3.7.
Those numbers carry particular weight when it is taken into account that Baturina did not have the status of an undisputed starter from the beginning of the season. He arrived in Italy as one of the most highly rated young players from Dinamo's academy, but also as a footballer who had to adapt to a higher tempo, stricter tactical demands and a different distribution of responsibilities. Lega Serie A described his introduction to the season as gradual: during the opening months, he frequently came off the bench and received limited opportunities before a series of notable performances earned him a substantially more important role. That development did not go unnoticed, and in January 2026 he was named Serie A's best young player of the month. According to the league's official explanation, the award was granted on the basis of advanced statistical and positional data, including off-the-ball movement, decision-making and his contribution to the team's technical and physical efficiency.
The numbers that explain the interest from major clubs
The most prominent figure from Squawka's analysis concerns chance creation. Baturina's 3.6 chances created per 90 minutes place him immediately behind Dybala and ahead of a large number of established playmakers in the Italian championship. His three league assists therefore do not provide a complete picture of his influence, because the number of passes after which his teammates found themselves in promising situations suggests that he could have finished the season with a noticeably better assist return. Squawka also states that he created a big chance once every 196.1 minutes on average, the second-best result in the Como squad. It is an indicator confirming that his game is not limited to circulating the ball and maintaining possession, but includes a tangible contribution in the areas from which matches are decided.
At the same time, Baturina does not operate exclusively as a classic number ten waiting for the ball between the opposition's lines. In Cesc Fàbregas's system, he can drop deeper, participate in the first or second phase of build-up and then accelerate the move with a turn, a progressive pass or a carry towards the opposing defence. Squawka points out that only Maxence Caqueret and Nico Paz, among Como players, attempted to play the ball through the defensive line more frequently. Baturina attempted such a pass approximately once every 224 minutes, further demonstrating his tendency to seek vertical solutions. His value therefore lies not only in technical elegance, but also in the ability to change the direction and speed of an attack with a single action.
That is particularly important in a team that averaged 61.6 per cent possession during the season, according to the data cited by Squawka. Como often had to attack opponents positioned in a low or medium block, where there is little space for lengthy carries and preparation before shooting. In such circumstances, players are required who can receive the ball under pressure, recognise movement before the space fully opens and execute a precise pass without an additional touch. It was precisely in those situations that Baturina established himself as one of Fàbregas's most valuable solutions. His ability to combine with Paz and the other attacking players gave Como an additional dimension, particularly when the opponent closed down the flanks and forced the attack through the centre.
Resistance to pressure as a key quality
Squawka places particular emphasis on Baturina's resistance to pressure, a quality that has become one of the main criteria when assessing midfielders for clubs seeking to dominate possession. According to its data, he lost the ball as a result of an opponent's dispossession only 1.7 times per 90 minutes. For a player who frequently receives the ball between the lines, turns towards goal and attempts demanding passes, that average is very low. It does not mean that Baturina avoids risk, but rather that in most situations he succeeds in shielding the ball with his body, changing direction or finding a free teammate at the right moment. It is precisely that combination of security and ambition that makes him attractive to clubs requiring a midfielder to remain calm even when closed down by two opponents.
His build is not dominant in the traditional physical sense, but his lower centre of gravity and quick first step allow him to escape duels without unnecessary contact. In tight spaces, he often uses a body feint, a short drag of the ball or a change of direction that causes the opponent to take a false step. Such actions do not always end with a direct assist, but they can break the structure of the press and open up an entire side of the pitch. For that reason, Baturina's output cannot be assessed solely through goals and final passes. His greatest contribution often occurs several seconds earlier, at the moment when he receives a difficult ball, retains it under pressure and enables the team to transition from the defensive phase into the attacking phase.
Opponents also recognised his importance through the number of fouls committed against him. Squawka states that he was fouled 2.5 times per 90 minutes in Serie A, placing him among the 20 most frequently stopped players in the league. That average increased to 3.9 fouls per 90 minutes at the 2026 World Cup. The figure suggests that opponents identified him as a player who must not be allowed to turn and advance towards the final third. When a midfielder regularly forces opposing teams to commit tactical fouls, his value also increases because he wins set pieces, pushes the opposition defence backwards and changes the rhythm of the match.
Como found a role that highlights his strengths
Baturina arrived in Italy on 1 July 2025, and Como officially announced that he had signed a contract until 2030. The club presented him as a creative midfielder with the vision, technical quality and personality required to make decisions in key moments. Fàbregas highlighted his intelligence on the ball, quality in duels and suitability for the style of football Como want to build. His first season demonstrated that this was not merely a projection of long-term potential. Following an initial period of adjustment, Baturina became a player capable of simultaneously increasing control of possession and accelerating attacks.
Lega Serie A identifies his late goal against Bologna, scored only a few minutes after coming off the bench, as the turning point of his season. Notable performances against Lazio and Torino followed, featuring goals, creative passes and dangerous shots from outside the penalty area. Across four matches in January, he scored three goals and registered two assists, according to the league's official announcement, earning him the Rising Star of the Month award. That sequence changed his status within the team and demonstrated that he could produce tangible results even without receiving full playing time. By the end of the league campaign, he had reached six goals and three assists, while adding another two goals and one assist in five appearances in the Italian Cup, according to Opta Analyst data.
Fàbregas used him in several positions, depending on the opponent and the available teammates. He can play as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, as a left-sided number eight moving inside or as a player positioned somewhat wider but permitted to leave the flank. In certain phases, he can also assume the role of a false nine, which Lega Serie A identified as one of the possibilities in combination with Nico Paz. Such versatility enables the coach to change the structure without substituting a player. For the biggest European clubs, this is an important advantage because their schedules demand footballers capable of responding to different tactical assignments rather than specialists in only one position.
Not only a creator: he also contributes without the ball
Squawka's analysis does not stop at Baturina's play in possession. The Croatian midfielder recorded 4.93 ball recoveries or regains per 90 minutes, the third-best figure among Como players. That statistic shows that his contribution does not end after possession is lost. In a team that wants to win the ball back quickly and keep the opponent far from its own goal, the reaction of attacking midfielders after an error is just as important as their creativity. Baturina has enough mobility to close a passing lane, press the player in possession or collect a loose ball on the edge of the attacking third.
According to Squawka, Como conducted 30 per cent of their attacks through the middle, the highest proportion in Serie A during the 2025/26 season. At the same time, the team led the league in goals from counter-attacks, with nine such goals. At first glance, those two pieces of information may appear contradictory: a team with the highest average possession is usually associated with patient positional attacks rather than transitions. However, the ability to win the ball quickly and attack vertically was an important part of Como's game. Baturina is well suited to such a model because, after possession is recovered, he does not necessarily look for a safe backwards pass, but quickly raises his head and attempts to exploit a disorganised defence.
His work ethic without the ball also explains why he can play as a number eight rather than only as a number ten. A deeper role requires tracking opposing midfielders, protecting the space behind the wide player and contributing to the closing of the central areas. Baturina still has room for improvement in physical duels and positioning against the strongest teams, but his willingness to make recovery runs and react quickly after losing the ball gives the coach a foundation for further development. For clubs such as Bayern or Tottenham, that is precisely what matters: a creative player must also be able to function within an organised press rather than being exempt from defensive duties.
Why Tottenham and Bayern Munich are being mentioned
At the end of its analysis, Squawka lists Tottenham and Bayern Munich among the clubs monitoring Baturina's development. Such reports do not currently mean that a transfer is close, nor do they confirm the existence of formal negotiations. Above all, they illustrate the profile of player major clubs are looking for: a technically secure midfielder capable of receiving the ball under pressure, advancing through the centre, creating a chance and carrying out duties without possession. At the age of 23, Baturina already has experience in European competitions, international status and a season of adaptation in one of the most tactically demanding leagues. His goal against England at the 2026 World Cup, which Squawka also highlights, further increased his international visibility.
Tottenham emerge in this context because of their traditional need for players capable of connecting midfield and attack, particularly against opponents defending deep. Baturina can operate between the lines, but he can also drop towards the centre to help progress the ball, making him adaptable to different systems. Bayern, on the other hand, have for years sought midfielders capable of playing in a high-possession system and making quick decisions under pressure. Nevertheless, links with both clubs should currently be viewed as market interest and monitoring rather than a completed deal. Squawka's analysis does not mention an official offer, an agreement on a transfer fee or a specific timeframe in which a transfer could be completed.
Como, meanwhile, have no need to sell quickly. Baturina's contract is valid until 2030, and his importance in Fàbregas's system increased during the season. Squawka writes that the Italian club are not inclined to consider his departure without an exceptionally large offer, which is understandable given the player's age, the length of his contract and the scope for further growth in market value. Keeping Baturina would enable Como to continue developing the creative core of the team around him and Paz, while another full season in Serie A could further increase his consistency and influence. On the other hand, an offer significantly exceeding the club's previous investment could open the question of a sale, but such a scenario has not currently been officially confirmed.
Comparisons with Modrić bring recognition, but also risk
Because of Dinamo's academy, his position and the way he receives the ball, Baturina is often compared with Luka Modrić. Squawka uses that parallel as a framework for describing his ability to escape pressure, but such comparisons should be interpreted cautiously. Baturina himself said in an interview for Como's official channels that he does not expect a new Modrić to emerge and that their styles are not the same, although they share certain qualities. Such an answer demonstrates awareness of the magnitude of the comparison and the need to avoid building his own development around copying another player. Baturina's current profile is more attacking and direct, with greater emphasis on the final third, shooting and creating immediately in front of the penalty area.
For that very reason, his future may not be tied to one strictly defined role. He can develop into a playmaker operating from a deeper position, but he may also remain a midfielder who functions best closer to the opposing goal. The next step will depend on continuity of playing time, the quality of his decisions against the strongest opponents and his ability to maintain his creativity while assuming even greater defensive responsibility. His first season at Como provided enough evidence that he can meet Serie A's demands, but also enough room for development to ensure that the interest of larger clubs remains long-term rather than merely the consequence of a brief run of form.
The most important message of Squawka's analysis is therefore not that Baturina's transfer is inevitable, but that his qualities correspond to the direction in which modern elite football is developing. The most sought-after midfielders today must be secure under pressure, brave enough to attempt vertical passes, tactically adaptable and active after losing the ball. In his first season in Italy, Baturina displayed elements of all those qualities despite starting only 17 league matches. If he turns his high averages for creativity and security into an even more consistent output with greater playing time next season, it will be difficult for the interest of clubs such as Tottenham and Bayern to remain limited to observation.
Sources:
- Squawka – tactical analysis of Baturina's play, chance creation, resistance to pressure, defensive contribution and reported interest from European clubs (link)
- Opta Analyst – statistics for appearances, minutes, goals and assists in Serie A and the Italian Cup in 2025/26 (link)
- Como 1907 – official announcement of the player's arrival, contract until 2030 and assessment by coach Cesc Fàbregas (link)
- Lega Serie A – official announcement of the Rising Star of the Month award for January 2026 and the criteria used in the advanced analysis (link)
- Lega Serie A – overview of Baturina's development in his first season, turning points and tactical roles in the Como team (link)
- Como 1907 – interview and club review of Baturina's adaptation, ambitions and comparisons with Luka Modrić (link)