Martin Baturina's Champions League performances analysed as Aston Villa eye Croatia star
Martin Baturina is on Aston Villa’s radar following an impressive debut season at Como as they aim to add attacking depth to their ranks.
The 23-year-old winger was an important part of Cesc Fabregas’ side as they clinched an unlikely Champions League qualification.
He has already made waves at the World Cup for Croatia, after scoring to make it 1-1 in their eventual 4-2 loss to England on Wednesday.
Villa have been closely linked to his services in recent weeks, with journalists in Italy claiming that they have already seen a bid for Baturina rejected by Como.
New reports state that they remain keen on his services, and he could well join to be a key part of their return to the Champions League next season.
Even though he is only 23, Baturina boasts extensive UCL experience from his time at Dinamo Zagreb.
Football Insider have looked at what Villans fans can expect from him in the competition if he arrives in the Second City soon.
Martin Baturina’s Champions League performances so far broken down
Baturina made his Champions League bow in a first-round qualifying match for Zagreb back in 2021 at just 18-years-old.
He first helped his boyhood club qualify for the competition proper in 2022, and made his debut in the full tournament as a late substitute in a shock 1-0 win against Chelsea.
The versatile forward made four more appearances from the bench that season, but failed to register a goal contribution as Dinamo crashed out of Group E.
His second season in the Champions League proper came in 2024-25, when he played a much bigger role in an impressive league stage campaign for the Croatian side.
Baturina registered two goals and one assist in eight UCL starts that year, with a particularly standout showing against Monaco, as he notched two of those contributions in one match.
His 66th-minute strike was a thing of beauty, as he cut inside onto his left foot following a quick counter and struck home from the edge of the area.
Baturina's other strike came on his last UCL appearance to date in a 2-1 win against AC Milan, as he pounced on a defensive mistake and kept his cool to slide the ball under Mike Maignan.
Sources have told Football Insider that Harvey Barnes wants to join Aston Villa this summer, and so they may have a choice to make between which player to sign to bolster their left wing depth.
How was Baturina rated by Croatian media after England loss?
Baturina will now be a familiar name to English fans and pundits after his superb strike left Jordan Pickford with no chance in their World Cup opener in Dallas.
He has now scored twice in 20 appearances for his country since debuting in November 2023, and was heralded by national media for his impressive showing against the Three Lions.
Sportske novosti called him "the most dangerous Croatian player" after he produced a "fantastic finish" for their first equaliser.
Index Sport also hailed the 23-year-old as "one of Croatia's most lively players," while Sportnet joked that his price tag should now be £80million after his goal.