With Luka Modrić increasingly likely to retire from international football at the conclusion of Croatia’s 2026 World Cup campaign, the question of succession has become impossible to ignore. It will mark the end of one of football’s greatest midfield legacies and intensify a conversation Croatian football has been having for years:
Who comes next?
In my opinion, the answer has already arrived in the form of Martin Baturina.
At just 23, the Croatian international has emerged as one of Europe’s most intriguing creative midfielders, earning a move to Como after establishing himself as Dinamo Zagreb’s chief playmaker. While many attacking midfielders build their reputation on spectacular goals or defence-splitting dribbles, Baturina’s influence is considerably quieter. It is found in the passes that begin attacks, the spaces he drifts into before anyone else sees them, and the rhythm he imposes on possession.
That is what makes “Mr. Metronome” such an apt description.
The nickname reflects far more than his passing volume. Much like Modrić, Baturina is an initiator of possession rather than simply a recipient of it, repeatedly dropping away from the opposition’s midfield line to collect the ball before progressing attacks into the final third. During his final league season with Dinamo Zagreb, he recorded 1,192 touches, completed 741 passes at 87.7% accuracy and created 62 chances, while averaging more than 4.2 passes into the final third per 90 minutes. Those numbers paint the picture of a midfielder who demands responsibility rather than waits for the game to find him.
Watch him closely and the pattern quickly emerges. He is constantly scanning over both shoulders, drifting into new pockets of space and subtly repositioning himself to become the easiest passing option. Rarely fixed to one zone, Baturina drifts between deeper midfield areas, the half-spaces and advanced central pockets, remaining connected to every phase of possession. It is this perpetual movement, rather than any spectacular action, that allows him to influence matches so consistently.
A metronome does not merely keep ticking; it establishes the rhythm for everything around it. Baturina does the same. He decides when attacks should slow down, when they should move wide and when the next pass should break an opposition line. His game is built not on constant acceleration, but on controlled progression.
Few young midfielders recognise tempo as naturally as Baturina. Rather than forcing attacks at the first opportunity, he is equally comfortable recycling possession around a compact defensive block before threading a vertical pass through midfield. The contrast is subtle, but it is what separates him from many creative midfielders.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Baturina’s game is not the volume of passes he completes, but the decisions behind them.
His approach to possession is built on progression rather than spectacle. His first instinct is rarely to dribble. Instead, it is to pick the pass or make the turn that leaves his side in the strongest possible attacking position. Very little in his game is wasted. Every touch serves a purpose, whether creating a passing lane, drawing an opponent out of position or shifting the angle of an attack. Even when under pressure, he rarely looks rushed, preferring to manipulate the defensive structure before exploiting the space it leaves behind.
The data reinforces that impression. Despite completing just 23 successful dribbles during his final campaign at Dinamo Zagreb, Baturina consistently progressed attacks through intelligent distribution, creating 62 chances while recording an expected assists (xA) figure of 4.76. Rather than carrying attacks himself, he manipulates defensive structures through quick combinations, disguised passes and subtle changes of angle.
Creative midfielders often become preoccupied with the final pass, attempting ambitious through balls at every opportunity in search of an assist. Baturina’s creativity is more measured. He understands that the quickest route to goal is not always the most effective one, showing the patience to circulate possession, recycle attacks and wait for defensive structures to open before committing the decisive pass.
Despite registering only three league assists during his final season at Dinamo Zagreb, Baturina created 62 chances and recorded 4.76 expected assists. The disparity suggests his creativity often outpaced the finishing around him. His influence is often found one pass earlier: the switch of play that destabilises a defensive block, the disguised pass between the lines or the subtle combination that creates the opening in the first place.
It is this restraint that makes Baturina such an effective conductor. Rather than attempting to dictate every attack through moments of individual brilliance, he understands when to accelerate possession, when to recycle it and, perhaps most importantly, when to simply let the game breathe. It is a level of maturity rarely seen in a 23-year-old.
Baturina’s qualities make him a natural fit for possession-dominant systems. Teams that value structured build-up and sustained control are likely to maximise his strengths, allowing him to drift between the lines, dictate attacks and connect each phase of possession. Rather than demanding he repeatedly carry the ball over long distances or beat defenders in isolation, his greatest value lies in elevating those around him through intelligent positioning, circulation and decision-making.
That does not mean he lacks the ability to drive forward when space opens. His close control and awareness allow him to escape pressure, but his instinct is almost always to find the pass that progresses the attack rather than the dribble that steals the headlines. It is a style built on efficiency rather than spectacle.
No prospect arrives without questions, and Baturina is no exception. He is neither an explosive athlete nor an elite one-versus-one dribbler, meaning he is unlikely to thrive in transition-heavy systems that demand repeated individual actions. Instead, his profile is tailored to possession-based football, where his positioning, awareness and distribution allow him to dictate rhythm and connect every phase of play.
