Croatian Star Martin Baturina Shines in Champions League Debut

Martin Baturina, a Croatian midfielder for Italian club Como, has made a significant impact in European football, recently scoring and assisting in his Champions League debut. These goals marked Como's first-ever goals in the prestigious tournament. Baturina's father, Mladen Baturina, is a former player for Israeli club Bnei Yehuda, where he played from 2003 to 2007, scoring 23 goals in 107 appearances. Martin was born in 2003 during his father's tenure in Tel Aviv.

Baturina's career has seen a rapid ascent. After developing in Dinamo Zagreb's youth system and making his senior debut, he transferred to Como last summer for 18 million euros. He was a key player in Como's successful season under manager Cesc Fàbregas, helping them qualify for the Champions League.

Last season, Baturina scored eight goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances for Como. His contributions included a crucial goal against Napoli and a successful penalty in a shootout, aiding the team in reaching the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 40 years. His market value has surged dramatically, increasing by 150% from approximately 18 million euros in January 2026 to 45 million euros just nine months later, according to Transfermarkt.