Man United face serious competition in race to £17m playmaker also keen to play at Old Trafford after Luka Modric asks Real Madrid to sign him -Report

Man United face serious competition in race to £17m playmaker also keen to play at Old Trafford after Luka Modric asks Real Madrid to sign him -Report

According to reports, Luka Modric has instructed Real Madrid to sign Martin Baturina, a 21-year-old countryman who Manchester United is also interested in signing.

Manchester United is reportedly interested in Martin Baturina, according to a report by the Spanish publication Defensa Central.

The 21-year-old playmaker would be a welcome addition to the Red Devils’ midfield. Luka Modric, though, is hoping that Real Madrid would sign his countryman during the summer transfer window of 2025.

Who is Martin Baturina?
Martin Baturina has established himself as one of the best young prospects in his homeland in the last few years.

A native of Split, the youngster spent his formative years in Croatia, including spells at his hometown clubs Hajduk Split and RNK Split. However, the Croat graduated from the youth division at Dinamo Zagreb.

The 21-year-old broke into the first-team squad at Dinamo Zagreb towards the end of the 2020/21 season and has come leaps and bounds since then.

Baturina has been hot off the blocks in the 2024/25 campaign, providing five assists in seven appearances across all competitions thus far this term.

The young midfield prospect made his international bow for Croatia in the final international break of 2023 and has already turned out five times for his national side.

Meanwhile, the Croatian international’s exploits for his club and country have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe, including Manchester United. In addition, his compatriot is impressed and wants Real Madrid to sign him.

A man in demand
Manchester United’s interest in Martin Baturina is understandable. The Red Devils lack creativity from the central areas apart from Bruno Fernandes’s relentless attempts. So, with the Croatian international capable of playing as a box-to-box midfielder, he is a viable target for Manchester United.

As for Real Madrid, Los Blancos will likely delve into the market next summer amid Luka Modric’s advancing years. So, several candidates, including Florian Wirtz, have emerged as targets for Real Madrid. However, Modric wants the reigning La Liga champions to sign his compatriot next year.