Croatian Star Martin Baturina Shines in Champions League Debut

Martin Baturina, son of former Bnei Yehuda player Mato Baturina, made a significant impact in his Champions League debut for Italian club Como. The Croatian midfielder scored a crucial goal and provided an impressive assist, marking Como's first-ever goals in the prestigious European competition. Baturina, who joined Como last summer for 18 million euros, has quickly become a key player for the team managed by Cesc Fàbregas.

Baturina's father, Mato, played for Bnei Yehuda in Israel from 2003, the year Martin was born, for four seasons. During his time with the Tel Aviv club, Mato scored 23 goals in 107 appearances. Martin, however, appears poised for an even more notable career.

Before his Champions League heroics, Baturina was already gaining recognition in Europe, having scored for the Croatian national team in the World Cup. His transfermarkt value has seen a meteoric rise, jumping from approximately 18 million euros in January 2026 to 45 million euros just nine months later, a 150% increase.

Last season, Baturina was instrumental in Como's successful campaign, contributing eight goals and four assists in 34 appearances. He notably scored a critical goal against Napoli and performed well in penalty shootouts, helping Como reach the Italian Cup semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.