Manchester United and Aston Villa are competing to sign Como striker Martin Baturina, according to Sky Italia. The 23-year-old Croatian increased his odds even further by scoring his team's first goal in the opening game of the World Cup against England, a match that the English would end up winning 4-2.
Despite having only completed his first season in Serie A, the product of Dinamo Zagreb's formation had already been attracting interest for a few months. Leeds United and Bayern Munich sounded out the player, with Como rejecting a proposal of 50 million euros.
Baturina had a difficult start to the 2023/24 season, but grew in form in the second half of the season, helping Como close out the league with qualification for the Champions League. In total, he scored 8 goals and added 4 assists in 34 games across all competitions.
Signed from Dinamo Zagreb last summer for 18 million euros, the striker earns a gross annual salary of 930,000 euros and has a contract valid until June 2030.
The World Cup stage tends to value players and the performance in the opening match will have put English clubs on high alert. Croatia knows how to go far in major competitions and, with the possibility of moving forward even as third in the group, Baturina should have more opportunities to stand out. Remaining in Como could serve his development, but with Premier League interest gaining momentum, the outcome could accelerate in the coming weeks.
