Tag: Juventus

Meet Konstantinos Koulierakis: The Highly Coveted VfL Wolfsburg Defender Already Turning Heads Around Europe

Meet Konstantinos Koulierakis: The Highly Coveted VfL Wolfsburg Defender Already Turning Heads Around Europe

In the last few years, VfL Wolfsburg has masterfully cultivated a reputation for their savvy manoeuvres in the transfer market, where they have consistently showcased their skill in identifying and developing talent. Their most remarkable achievements lie in the profitable sales of centre-backs, where they have adeptly turned promising players into lucrative transactions.

With a keen eye for potential, the club has not only strengthened their own squad but has also capitalised on the high demand for skilled defenders, earning impressive sums and reinforcing their status as a shrewd player in the transfer market.

VfL Wolsburg’s sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz

The German Bundesliga outfit have overseen the rise and profitable sales of both Micky van de Ven and Maxence Lacroix, both of whom developed from unknown quantities to burgeoning defensive talents over the course of a few years, and were rewarded with big moves abroad to the Barclays Premier League.

At the start of the 2023/24 campaign, Die Wolfe sold van de Ven to Tottenham Hotspur for €40m (£34.6m), their second-highest sale after Kevin De Bruyne, when he joined Manchester City in 2015.

Spurs defender Micky van de Ven (when fit) has garnered a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in England

At the start of last season, they sold Maxence Lacroix to Crystal Palace for €18m (£15.6m). At the time of writing, both players have not only firmly established themselves as pivotal cogs at their respective clubs but have also developed into two of the best of their position in the Premier League and in Europe.

This positive trend for Wolfsburg could well have continued into the summer transfer window for a third consecutive year, after yet another of their promising young defenders in Greece international Konstantinos Koulierakis, who only joined the club in August 2024 from PAOK FC, attracted significant interest from Liverpool and Real Madrid throughout the off-season.

Wolfsburg should be applauded for their brilliant scouting and recruitment.

In 2021, they gambled on a 20-year-old Van de Ven from the second tier of Dutch football, sanctioning the €8m (£7m) signing from FC Volendam. It seems like the risk will also pay off with Koulierakis. It is simply a question of how quickly the £10m fee they paid to PAOK turns into yet another £36m+, not a matter of when.

To ask the usual #AnthonyScouts analysis questions: How good is Koulierakis, how has he gotten to this pre-lofty position in his career, and what does the future hold for him, even if it is not only bright but potentially immediate?

Who is Konstantinos Koulierakis?

Born in Chania, Crete, Greece. Koulierakis joined the PAOK academy as a 13-year-old in 2017. It wouldn’t be long before top European clubs sent scouts to watch and inquire about this impressive young centre-back, who was dominating in PAOK’s academy. The club quoted a price tag of around €15m.

After spending a successful year with the B team, Koulierakis was allowed to join the first team, and he never looked back, making 31 appearances in the 2022/23 season, including being named to the league’s official team of the season at the end of the campaign.

The Greek talent was the subject of interest from Italian Serie A side Fiorentina during the summer window, which was knocked back by PAOK.

While it may have unsettled many other talents his age, not being given the opportunity to chance his arm at a club in a top European league, Koulierakis used that as fuel to better himself and develop further.

He would follow that up with yet another impressive campaign in 2023/24, helping PAOK to the league title and scoring key goals in their run to the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals as well.

After a successful season, both individually and collectively, he would be handed the opportunity to make the move across Europe in the summer of 2024. Wolfsburg officially came calling, and the Greek defender would put pen to paper on 20 August, but PAOK delayed the transfer for Koulierakis to help them qualify for the Europa League via the play-offs.

Nine days later, the deal was completed.

Across 73 appearances for PAOK, Koulierakis scored nine times and assisted four times, underlining his importance not just as a defender but also as an impact-maker in the opposition box.

Since his arrival in Germany, the 21-year-old has continued his stunning upward trajectory, quickly establishing himself as one of the best young defenders in the Bundesliga and in Europe.

The 2024/25 campaign would prove a hugely successful one for him individually, even if it was a mixed bag for the club as a whole.

Under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, he quickly cemented himself as an undisputed starter in a Wolfsburg team aiming to push for the European places, which proved fruitless, finishing in 11th place and ultimately costing the former Southampton coach his job towards the end of the campaign.

Koulierakis’s crucial importance to Die Wolf has carried straight through into the new Bundesliga campaign, featuring in all six of their games so far at the time of writing.

On the international stage, the Chania-born talent has also become a vital figure in a hugely refreshing and rejuvenated Greek national team, possessing such highly coveted young stars such as Koulierakis himself, Konstantinos Karetsas, Christos Zafeiris, Christos Tzolis, Giannis Konstantelias and Christos Mouzakitis.

After just 16 caps for his country, Koulierakis has already become a real focal point and leader at the heart of the defence alongside West Ham United defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

A fine example of the understanding and strength of that partnership would certainly be evident in arguably the highlight of his international career so far, the memorable 2-1 win over England at Wembley in October 2024.

Koulierakis looked at home on the biggest stage, a composed, measured and immovable presence up against the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

Such performances and characteristics are what made him an attractive prospect for the elite European clubs over the summer, with Juventus, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund also joining Liverpool and Real Madrid in admiring his profile.

The PAOK academy graduate is certainly an intriguing and exciting defensive profile, one who could blossom into a generational superstar, especially within the context of his nation. But why?

How good is Konstantinos Koulierakis?

Standing at 6’1″, Koulierakis evokes memories of a former graceful young Bundesliga defender who has since established himself at the highest level: Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol.

Much like Gvardiol, Koulierakis possesses an imposing presence, characterised by his impressive athleticism and striking physical attributes that suggest he was crafted for the sport. His powerful build allows him to dominate both his aerial and ground duels, showcasing remarkable leaping ability and strength.

As a Greek international, he approaches his defensive responsibilities with a fierce intensity, often disrupting opposing attackers with his relentless pursuit and aggressive tackling. This combination of skill, size, and tenacity makes him a formidable force at the heart of defence.

But, he can make telling contributions the other way.

Attacking outlier

The above graphic, which compares his performance across different data metrics in attack, defence and in possession among other players in his position in the Bundesliga over the past year, certainly paints a picture of Koulierakis’s unique and impressive profile.

First and foremost, despite him being a defender, his attacking metrics certainly stand out at first glance, particularly in shots per 90 and touches in the opposition penalty area per 90, ranking in the 90th and 76th percentiles, respectively.

This highlights that he is one of the most threatening centre-backs in the German Bundesliga, even though he is yet to score a single goal in Wolfsburg colours so far.

However, he did bag an impressive seven goals during his last campaign in Greece, six of which came in European competitions, which suggests that he does and will have the propensity to crop up with the crucial goals when the time comes.

Ultimately, though, where he’s judged is in how he keeps the ball out of the net at the other end, and as is the case for centre-backs in the modern game, his ability and comfort in possession. So let’s address the latter first.

Progressive Line-Breaking Passing

In the modern game, the role of the centre-back has evolved dramatically. These defenders are now not just stalwarts of the backline; they are pivotal playmakers who initiate attacks from deep within their own half. The expectation is to exhibit exceptional passing abilities, allowing them to seamlessly transition from defence to offence.

In addition to technical prowess, modern centre-backs must possess keen tactical awareness, demonstrating the ability to read the game and make split-second decisions, even under immense pressure when their team is building from the back. They must exhibit keen confidence in possession, composure and good pass selection to seamlessly get their team into the attacking phase of play.

Wolfsburg are not known for being one of the possession-focused teams in the German Bundesliga. Last season, they ranked 12th in the league for possession percentage (FBRef) as a collective unit, and so far this season, they still remain around that ballpark after six games. Therefore, evaluating Koulierakis’s passing ability may not provide a complete picture.

However, statistically, he is amongst the best in the Bundesliga amongst his positional peers when it comes to passing and bringing the ball out of defence.

As per Footverse, Koulierakis ranks in the 86th percentile for passes attempted, 85th for passes completed, 86th for passes into the final third and in the 82nd percentile for progressive passes. All of these metrics certainly show the 21-year-old’s progressive intent in possession, and he isn’t afraid to hit the long, risky pass too. The Crete-born centre-back ranks in the 97th percentile for long passes attempted and 96th for long passes completed.

Some might argue that these impressive metrics are due to Koulierakis being used as the main progressive hub when building from the back. Both Wolfsburg and Greece prefer to initiate their build-up play through him rather than his defensive partners. This is further supported by his ranking in the 88th percentile for passes received and the 95th percentile for touches in the defensive third.

Regardless of this argument, which the numbers seem to validate, the 21-year-old demonstrates an ability to take on this responsibility effectively. He consistently shows reliable ground technique with precise, crisp, and sharp passing, executed with a keen understanding of his teammates’ positions.

He can penetrate and break opposition lines, often finding his more advanced teammates in creative and dangerous areas, whether in the left half-space, central zones, or setting up his deep-lying midfielders for simple wall passes.

For example, in the image below, Koulierakis receives the ball from his defensive partner, Denis Vavro. He looks up to scan and find a teammate in an advanced zone…

…before executing a sublime line-breaking pass for him in a bit of space…

…but it comes to nothing due to his teammate failing to control the pass. However, it’s a fine example of Koulierakis taking responsibility and his intent in progressing the ball for his team.

In another instance, we see the talented centre-back taking on the responsibility, this time for Greece, against England at Wembley back in October. However, this time, he’s in the left centre-back position in a back three tasked with finding a teammate from a totally different angle…

With Phil Foden bearing down on him and Ollie Watkins following, he has to make a snap decision to bypass that line of pressure and get the ball to a teammate in space.

In the image below, it may look like the Greek defender is just hoofing the ball up the pitch to avoid the danger of losing possession under pressure…

…but that’s not Koulierakis’ style.

He excellently picks out his teammate in space to run at the opposition defence, completely dissecting England’s gaping midfield.

While England’s press and shape leave a lot to be desired in this scenario, giving Koulierakis ample opportunity and ease to exploit it, there is no discounting, once again, his intent and purposeful passing in order to progress play for his team. He completely turns a near-awkward situation for his team into one filled with goalscoring opportunities.

Front-footed proactive defender

While the Greek international’s passing ability has quickly become one of his greatest assets, it is his defensive nous that will face the most scrutiny. Much of Koulierakis’ evolution this past year, and the reason he is certainly turning heads in Europe, is a result of his stark improvement in defending.

First and foremost, just because he’s a smooth operator in possession does not detract from his bullish, aggressive, and immovable nature when defending.

Standing at nearly 6’2″, Koulierakis commands attention with his impressive physique and striking presence. He is exceptional physically, possessing excellent athleticism and flexibility when covering ground within his defensive zones or engaging in duels.

You can almost categorise him as a stopper-type. A no-nonsense centre-back who takes no prisoners when duelling, isn’t afraid to do the dirty work when sweeping, in clearing the ball out of danger and engaging attackers on the ball even before approaching his zone.

Koulierakis shines as a proactive, front-footed centre-back. His timing in challenges and reading of situations is consistently precise, and as highlighted previously, he approaches duels with aggression and unwavering conviction.

He frequently positions himself strategically to win possession in advanced areas of the field, either through skilful interceptions or by stepping into action when his midfield is breached. This readiness to act as a defensive ‘firefighter’ creates opportunities for his team to initiate swift and efficient counter-attacks, turning defensive situations into moments of offensive advantage.

For instance, in the image below, the opponent attempts to progress the ball to his teammate in the attacking third…

The pass turns out to be a bad one, but Koulierakis still takes responsibility in stepping out of his defensive line,…

…intercepts the pass before launching a swift counter, going past his man and progressing the ball to an advanced teammate in space…

This instance certainly exemplifies the centre-back’s proactive and progressive nature all in one scenario.

He even joins the attack, following his pass.

Had his teammate Maximillian Arnold intercepted the initial pass while on the ground, Wolfsburg would not have had the chance to launch a counter, as once the German midfielder got back up with the ball, Union Berlin would have retreated quickly into their defensive shape or, more crucially, pressed Arnold and exploited the gap in Wolfsburg’s defence.

It was imperative Koulierakis take responsibility in that particular moment.

In another fine example of the Greek international’s excellent proactive approach, the opponent receives the ball with his back to goal, with Koulierakis tracking him into midfield as soon as he controls the ball.

The Werder Bremen player attempts to bypass the surrounding pressure, but has nowhere to turn given Koulierakis’ excellent positioning, anticipation and his nearby teammates covering each direction…

As a result of the pressure, the Greek colossus reads the situation…

and wins the ball back for his team.

While many centre-backs have the ability to track their markers into midfield, they frequently fall short in terms of aggression and anticipation. They often miss the chance to use their imposing stature and commanding presence to encircle the opponent and reclaim possession. Consequently, the gaps left behind can be gracefully capitalised on by the opposing team, creating dangerous opportunities.

That isn’t the case for Koulierakis. The defender’s imposing stature and freakish athleticism mean he almost always holds the advantage in those risky situations, not allowing his forward marker the opportunity to turn and progress towards his goal.

Koulierakis exhibits very good defensive intelligence, not only in his proactive duelling but also across all phases of defence. He consistently anticipates play, positioning his body optimally to neutralise incoming threats and shut down dangerous situations with great awareness.

For example, in the image below, the FC Heidenheim player in possession attempts to punch a pass into the feet of his teammate at the edge of the penalty area. It certainly seems Koulierakis (RED) won’t be able to intervene…

…but once again, the 21-year-old’s presence of mind, athleticism and flexibility mean he is very well capable of snuffing out the danger, getting across before the ball arrives…

…before reaching a leg out to intercept. Not only did he intercept it, given the volume of danger around him,…

…but he manages to clear it out of the immediate danger too, in the same motion.

Defenders who possess the presence of mind and consistency to read situations before they become dangerous are a rarity in the modern game.

Koulierakis certainly possesses this in abundance, and it’s easy to see why he’s becoming an attractive proposition for the elite clubs in Europe, including Liverpool.

Another stunning example of this comes up against one of the best strikers in Europe over the past year, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy (BLUE).

To start with, Koulierakis’ positioning (RED) in this situation is excellent.

He’s goal-side of his marker, in perfect view of the action in front of him, allowing him ample time and opportunity to engage any situations that come in his zone.

However, as the play progresses, one piece of skill from the intelligent and cunning predatory instincts of Guirassy attempts to disrupt it all.

The ball is played to the Guinea international…

… but Guirassy is aware of what’s immediately behind him, Koulierakis’ marker. Which means the Greek international will need to instantly engage and read whatever occurs…

Guirassy brilliantly dummies the pass, fooling Koulierakis’ defensive partner, taking him out of the game and expecting the return…

As a result of Guirassy’s smartness, Wolfsburg’s defensive line has been instantly dissected, with Koulierakis their only hope of avoiding being breached.

In this instance, it would be easy for Koulierakis to follow his initial marker towards the ball. However, he excellently reads what Maximilian Beier is intending to do, return the pass to Guirassy, who is through on goal once executed.

Rather than follow Beier, Koulierakis once again is tremendously aware of what’s coming and instantly attempts to engage Guirassy’s run, knowing that the run is more dangerous than Beier’s positioning.

As a result of his excellent awareness and reading of the situation, he’s able to meet and stand up to the tricky Guirassy once he receives the return pass and snuff out the danger…

The above scenario also paints a picture of Koulierakis’ wide defending and coverage. When faced with an attacker who’s exploiting wide spaces left by his full-backs, he’s more than capable of matching that opponent for pace and engaging at the right time to dispossess and stop the attack from progressing further.

Koulierakis demonstrates exceptional agility and explosive power over short distances, enabling him to cover ground quickly and recover from dangerous situations not only for himself but also for his teammates, as illustrated in the above example.

A backline leader & shield

Another defining facet of the Greek international’s game is his fearlessness, leadership and bravery in defensive situations, embodying qualities of a dominant defender but more importantly, a backline leader.

He’s a defender who constantly takes responsibility and initiative, and that is shown in his willingness to make first contact for every cross into his own penalty area, his fighter’s mentality to winning crucial duels in the 18-yard box, and his no-nonsense approach to getting rid of danger.

If a loose ball demands a swift, unglamorous and unrefined clearance to safety – a rare commodious trait in centre-backs in the modern game – he’ll execute that task with swift decisiveness, ensuring that no threat lingers in his zone.

The former PAOK defender is also incredible at putting his body on the line to stop opponents’ shots at goal. In fact, the underlying stats certainly paint a picture of his no-nonsense approach when defending.

Amongst centre-backs in Europe, the Greek international ranks in the 98th percentile for blocked shots, 94th percentile for blocks, 89th for clearances and 84th for passes blocked and dribblers tackled per 90 [Footverse].

Koulierakis commands the penalty area with authority, decisiveness and immense bravery. For instance, in the scenario below.

With his side camped in their own box, desperately defending an early lead, it’s Koulierakis who puts himself on the line to keep his opponents at bay.

He excellently and bravely anticipates an incoming shot, positions himself in front of it to block, albeit with his head. Immediately afterwards, another shot is lined up, but Koulierakis gets in the way once again, this time with his shoulder.

Certainly, it’s unconventional, but we’re talking about a “by any means necessary“-type centre-back, always willing to put his body on the line to ensure his side has the best chance of winning. More crucially, it’s his reading of dangers before they occur that allows him to stand out.

Areas of Improvement

Aerial duelling

He’s always alert and ready through his body positioning and defensive awareness to engage at any moment, but that will also have to aid him in his aerial duelling, which, as stats show, needs some work.

Standing at 1.88m, Koulierakis may not be the tallest centre-back, and the way he oozes confidence going in for ground duels and putting himself on the line for blocks and clearances, as we’ve highlighted, the numbers show he’s not as authoritative in the air.

As per Footverse, he ranks in the 69th percentile of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for aerials won. By no means does that make for terrible reading; in fact, it’s decent. However, his leaps and the timing of them are very good, which raises an expectation that he should win most of his aerial duels.

According to SofaScore, he has a win rate of 44% so far this season, which again, isn’t bad but could be better given the authority he exerts in his duels and the sheer presence he possesses amongst his teammates.

Turning radius & mobility in tight situations

We pointed out Koulierakis’ weakness in playing out from the back when faced with an opponent’s press, and another facet of that is his inability to play with his back to goal in certain situations, due to his lack of turning radius and mobility.

While those kind of scenarios are rare for a club like Wolfsburg who aren’t well-versed in a possession-based and fluid back-to-front style, should he make the big move to a Liverpool, Madrid or another elite side, for that matter, those skills will certainly come in handy.

The Greek talent boasts impressive agility and vertical explosiveness, but he faces some limitations when weaving his way out of tight areas. His imposing, athletic and powerful frame can occasionally hinder the fluidity and flexibility required for such tight and pressurised scenarios.

Decision-making in possession, and the quality of pass amidst pressure

While Koulierakis’ line-breaking and progressing passing have become a notable calling card in his game, there are some elements in his decision-making with the ball at his feet which could use more refining. One of those is his pass selection and accuracy, or even the timing of his long passing. He can often try to force the play too prematurely and look to choose the more difficult option in going long rather than playing it short and keeping things simple for his team.

Also, the on-ball scenarios highlighted in this piece show the Greek defender with time to pick a pass, but at times, he can lack the composure needed in certain situations when pressed by an opponent, which leads to those hurried and inaccurate long balls mentioned, ceding possession back to the opposition.

Possessing the ability to retain the ball under pressure is an essential attribute for any player performing in key sensitive areas of the field, especially the zones which centre-backs take up in the build-up phase, where losing the ball can lead to dangerous consequences.

Given that the big teams that are hunting down major silverware are also high-possession-based sides and place a lot of demands on their centre-backs on the ball, this is certainly something the Greek defender will need to develop and improve on if he is to make that expected big jump in the near future.

The issue is not so much with his technical acumen as we’ve pointed out, but more with his decision-making and quality control when pressed, which requires more learning and improvement, but these aspects are crucially addressable with the right coaching and environment.

What does the future hold for Koulierakis?

Konstantinos Koulierakis is an exceptionally versatile defender, embodying all the qualities that modern elite clubs covet in a centre-back.

His game is a masterful blend of technical finesse and precision passing, seamlessly combined with an impressive athleticism characterised by speed, strength, and agility.

Koulierakis exhibits sharp defensive instincts through his astute tackling, impeccable positioning, and eagle-eyed anticipation of opponents’ moves. Moreover, he adds an exciting dimension to the attack during set pieces, making him a constant double threat on the pitch. This comprehensive skill set leaves no room for concern; there are no glaring weaknesses in his performance.

Given these attributes, he stands out as a prime candidate for a significant transfer to a club vying for glory at the highest levels of competition.

However, the pivotal question now hovers around timing. Despite the absence of a blockbuster move during the summer transfer window, speculation lingers about whether powerhouse clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan, or Borussia Dortmund will circle back to him next summer or even as soon as January. Yet, such uncertainties are beyond Koulierakis’ influence.

What he can control is his commitment to excellence, focusing on delivering outstanding performances and relentless development. He must continue to shine for Wolfsburg and his national team, just as he has consistently done over the past year.

If he sustains this upward trajectory, there’s every reason to believe that the aforementioned elite clubs will soon line up to present formal offers for his exceptional talents in the near future. Nonetheless, he is ultimately in charge of his destiny.

Meet Cristhian Mosquera: The Next Elite Graduate From Valencia CF’s Prestigious Academy

Meet Cristhian Mosquera: The Next Elite Graduate From Valencia CF’s Prestigious Academy

Ask any football fan who the most famous clubs in the Spanish La Liga are, and they’d be sure to pick out the usual culprits: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia CF, who will arguably crop up approximately eight or nine times out of ten.

In fact, you won’t be surprised to find that most would name the latter more than the former.

The club from the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain has had many great squads and managers in its decorated history.

Remember some of their famous players, David Villa, David Silva, Santiago Canizares, Vincente, David Albelda, Juan Mata, Ever Banega & Pablo Aimar or in their past managerial department, Rafael Benitez, Claudio Ranieri, Ronald Koeman & Unai Emery?

Pretty glowing & decorated indeed.

Their peak was at the start of the 2000s when they reached two UEFA Champions League finals and won the UEFA Cup and La Liga in 2004 under Benitez.

Valencia CF celebrate winning the 2003/04 edition of the UEFA Cup under Rafael Benitez’s management.

However, the club fell into somewhat of a great depression because of a series of bad financial decisions and the 2008 financial crisis.

They never managed to recover and, therefore, were sold to investor Peter Lim.

In the early stages of the takeover, things seemed upward, with the club qualifying for the Champions League multiple times.

Under manager Marcelino, the team finished fourth in La Liga in consecutive seasons, 2017/18 and 2018/19, and even reached the semi-final of the UEFA Europa League in 2019, also winning the Copa del Rey that year.

Marcelino guided Valencia to Spanish Copa Del Rey success in 2019 before being sacked the following season.

After that, Marcelino was fired by Peter Lim himself, and the club found itself in a downward spiral, being forced to sell star talent like Carlos Soler, Ferran Torres or club legend Dani Parejo and only being able to replace them for cheap or through their academy, which is one of the best in Europe.

Ever since Marcelino’s sacking, Valencia’s league positions have fluctuated, finishing 9th, 13th, 9th, 16th and 9th over the last five years whilst having to rummage through a handful of managerial appointments to find out its best fit, but to no avail.

The current 2024/25 campaign has proven to be arguably their most tumultuous.

After only winning two out of their last 24 league games, legendary Valencia midfielder Rubén Baraja was relieved of his duties as manager with the club steeped in the relegation zone.

At Christmas, desperate times called for desperate financial measures as they activated a release clause of between £3-4 million to acquire talented West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan. Four months on from that decision, Los Che have enjoyed an upward trajectory on the field.

Former West Bromwich Albion coach Carlos Corberan has made a considerable impact at the Mestalla Stadium since his appointment in December.

At the time of writing, they’ve won the second-most points total (25) [Transfermarkt] of any club in La Liga since Corberan’s appointment, and now currently sit 14th in the table, seven points off the drop zone.

Since the Spanish coach took over at his dream job, Valencia have lost just four out of 16 games, against Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid and twice against Barcelona. They’re unbeaten against everyone else they’ve faced, and that’s down to Corberan’s impact both tactically and in his personable management.

Valencia also recently beat Real Madrid on their own turf – the first time they’ve done so since 2008 and their first away win of the campaign – another massive signifier of Corberan’s stellar impact at the Mestalla in just four months.

Even if the club’s off-field matters continue to plague the club’s standing amongst the elite in Spain and their reputation in Europe, their current form under Corberan is certainly providing a light at the end of an incredibly dark tunnel.

One element Valencia continue to find some sense of pride in is its flawless academy, with a number of their young talents currently thriving under Corberan’s tutelage.

Javi Guerra, Yarek Gasiorowski, Fran Perez, Jesús Vázquez and Diego Lopez are a few of their most exciting academy graduates, but one player arguably garnering the most attention both domestically and within Europe’s elite is young, uniquely gifted centre-back Cristhian Mosquera.

The current campaign is Mosquera’s second as an established first-team player at Valencia, and he is already showcasing why he is considered one of the most complete young centre-backs in Europe.

As a result, he’s attracting a whole host of interest with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AS Roma all rumoured to be casting an eye on him over the past year.

It won’t be long before the Spanish under-21 international is Valencia’s next big sale in the transfer market. So, how has the 20-year-old gotten to this stage in his career & what will he offer potential suitors?

Who is Cristhian Mosquera?

The story of Cristhian Mosquera starts in Alicante, Spain, a coastal city in the south of the Valencian Community.

He was born to Colombian parents and, at a young age, picked up the sport of basketball instead of football.

Mosquera grew up during the NBA’s global rise when Pau Gasol was winning championships with the late Kobe Bryant.

Given the Spaniard’s height and physique, it’s no surprise to find that he could well have been donning an LA Lakers jersey rather than a Valencia CF had he gotten his own way.

But it was on a Futsal pitch where Mosquera started, developed and honed the unique footballing qualities that we see in his game today.

He joined a local youth team for the sole reason that his cousin played for the team, and they needed a player due to being a man short.

Whatever happened during that period certainly persuaded Mosquera to try out a full eleven-a-side pitch, and it all led to him making his move to the Valencia CF youth team.

He then moved up the ranks quickly, making his full first-team debut in a January 2022 Copa del Rey victory over CD Atlético Baleares.

At 17 years, 6 months, and 23 days, Mosquera became the eighth youngest debutant for Los Che in their club’s history, as well as the youngest ever centre back.

Since then, the now 20-year-old has become the bedrock and heartbeat of the club’s defensive line ever since his La Liga debut against Sevilla in 2022, continually growing and developing to become one of Spain’s most prestigious young footballers.

He’s yet to feature for Luis de la Fuente’s European champions, continuing his development and maturity for the youth teams, but it certainly won’t be long before he’s performing at the highest level not only at club level but for Spain.

However, Mosquera also holds a Colombian passport, making him eligible to feature for Los Cafeteros should he find his opportunities for the Spanish senior side limited.

So far this campaign, he’s clocked just under 3000 minutes of football for Valencia. Last season, he registered 3,252 minutes, highlighting his incredible durability and availability for the club- a unique characteristic that elite clubs will be looking for when trying to sign a young, reliable and workaholic centre-back.

Mosquera, without a shadow of a doubt, will fit the bill for several of Europe’s best.

Dissecting the Cristhian Mosquera Hype / Style of Play

There’s the old saying, ‘Never judge a book by its cover, ‘ but in Mosquera’s case and for the sake of this analysis piece, we simply have to go against the old adage because the Spaniard’s cover arguably makes up for his exceptional footballing gifts.

At face value, when looking at the 20-year-old, the first characteristics you’d notice are his striking physical attributes.

Standing at 6’2″, Mosquera commands attention with his impressive physique and striking presence. With broad shoulders, a lanky frame and a solid build, he resembles a centre-back that could have been designed in a lab to meet the ideal specifications of modern football.

The Los Che academy graduate embodies the quintessential traits of a contemporary centre-back, perfectly blending physical prowess with a refined understanding of the game.

Mosquera’s height and strength enable him to dominate in aerial duels, while his keen tactical awareness and agility add to his imposing on-field persona.

Antonio Rudiger Regen?

The young Spaniard is drawing compelling comparisons to the formidable Real Madrid centre-back Antonio Rudiger.

Each match you watch intensifies the similarities, revealing a blend of poise, strength, and tactical awareness that echoes Rudiger’s commanding presence on the pitch. The parallels in their playing styles are becoming increasingly striking and undeniable, adding depth to the admiration for this emerging talent.

Should Real Madrid be looking at potential Rudiger replacements in the near future, Mosquera should certainly be at the top of their list.

Like the German, Mosquera is a commanding presence, a true backline leader, and an unstoppable force and given his knowledge and understanding of the Spanish top flight, he’d fit right in at the Santiago Bernabeu.

There’s a reason Mosquera is highly regarded amongst Europe’s elite, and before we can delve into his attributes/abilities, let’s see what the stats say.

Stats a fact

Immediately, two attributes stand out for Mosquera: defensive action volume and duel success rate.

The defensive actions component is encouraging but can be influenced heavily by possession, and with Valencia sitting 14th in the La Liga for possession of the ball [FBRef] this season, it explains a good bit of his success. 

Los Che under Carlos Corberan have improved considerably defensively. Their freak 7-1 defeat to Barcelona in late January should arguably be considered an outlier since the change in management.

The only other time they’ve conceded more than twice in a game since then came in their 3-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid a month later. Yes, it’s only hypothetical, but if not for those two results, Valencia would hold one of the best defensive records in the league since the turn of the year.

Corberan has moulded and shaped Valencia into a more dogged, organised and determined defensive unit, just like he did for Sky Bet Championship side West Brom during his tenure in Birmingham. Los Che may not have the ball all the time, but they are well-versed in controlling their opponents regardless.

Throughout his tenure, the Spaniard has alternated between 3-4-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1 formation, with his wingers dropping back out of the 4-2-3-1 to form a back-three with two wing-backs early on.

In the above image, we can see their defensive shape up against Girona with five defenders forming the last line with the three centre-backs, including Mosquera, and the wing-backs marking Girona’s attackers.

André Almeida and Diego López, the attacking midfielders or wingers per se, are dropping to the height of the two central midfielders to create another line in front of the defensive line.

This line is focused on defending the centre of the field and is aligned to cover the gaps in Valencia’s backline.

Mosquera’s role [the second to last man – from right to left – in the Valencia backline] is to engage and track his marker in front whenever the player receives in between the lines but also he’s tasked in sweeping up any loose balls in his zone while also providing strong coverage to the central centre-back César Tárrega.

This campaign, he has been instrumental for Valencia, contributing to seven clean sheets so far. His defensive prowess is evident, as he averages 1.1 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per match. Remarkably, he recovers an astonishing 5.4 balls and has been dribbled past a mere 0.3 times. With 3.1 clearances per game, his impact across the defence is undeniable, mastering the art of last-ditch, timely defending.

You’ll find in this article that Mosquera is, in fact, a pleasing-on-the-eye modern-day defender due to his progressive and unique attributes in possession, but he’s also

Wide Defending/Coverage

Mosquera stands out due to his remarkable versatility and positional intelligence. He exudes confidence as he seamlessly navigates any position across the back three.

His extraordinary focus and keen sense of anticipation allow him to read the game with uncanny accuracy, often predicting threats before they materialise. Coupled with his striking physique—tall, lean, and agile—he showcases surprising quickness over short distances, making him a formidable presence on the pitch.

The Alicante-born colossus has so far won almost 70% of his ground duels, again highlighting his dominance when engaging in duels. Amongst centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, he ranks in the top eight per cent for balls recovered per 90.

As pointed out previously, he is so comfortable sitting in one of the wide centre-back roles either on the left or on the right.

Mosquera showcases an impressive versatility on the field, displaying no bias toward his dominant right foot. This means that despite being right-footed, he skillfully patrols the left side, seamlessly tracking and engaging with attackers. Whether they attempt to race past him on the outside or cut inside toward his stronger foot, he stands unfazed, ready to counter their moves.

His one-on-one defending ranks among the elite in his position. With a powerful, athletic build, Mosquera exudes an imposing presence that poses a formidable challenge for any attacker, no matter their speed or finesse.

At just 20 years old, he faces each defensive situation with a blend of confidence and authority that belies his youth. His adeptness is particularly evident in his wide defending, where he showcases both poise and precision, making him a critical asset to his team’s defensive line.

In the defensive situation below, Mosquera is faced with an opponent who thinks he can get the drop on him by bringing him over to a tight situation…

The Spaniard’s body positioning to read the danger and what comes next is excellent at first…

However, it looks like he’s engaged the situation too early. Rather than standing goal side and not allowing him room to drive the ball towards the goal, he attempts to retrieve the ball on the wrong side.

The Spaniard recovers expertly.

The attacker may have got a yard on Mosquera because of him engaging early, but the 20-year-old uses his strength, anticipation and speed of thought to get himself goal side, marshal his opponent off the ball..

… snuff out the danger and take control of the situation.

He is excellent at matching his opponents for pace, standing up to them with his lanky and striking frame before possessing the quickness of thought and anticipation to read what his opponent will do next.

But as shown above, even when a situation appears hopeless, the Spaniard demonstrates quick thinking, speed, and agility to recover and eliminate danger.

Unbreachable force in the box

Without a doubt, the most important expectation or responsibility of a centre-back is being able to safeguard the penalty area and control central positions on the pitch. Mosquera exemplifies this duty with remarkable finesse and authority.

His defensive nous is characterised by an uncanny ability to intercept passes and foreshadow the moves of opposing attackers, often positioning himself as a formidable barrier against advancing forwards.

With a keen eye for the game, he reads situations meticulously, anticipating threats and stepping in decisively to thwart them.

Mosquera’s commanding presence instils a sense of confidence in his teammates, as he consistently organises the defence while ensuring that no opposing striker can find a comfortable passage into dangerous areas.

As pointed out in this piece, Valencia are a much more dogged, organised and stout defensive unit under Carlos Corberan, with Mosquera becoming one of the focal points of their recent success under the former West Bromwich Albion coach.

The Spaniard’s frame, size, incredible physicality, aggression, and striking athleticism make him an immovable object at the heart of the Valencia defence.

Opposition attackers simply don’t like coming up against him in the box because he’s so hard to bypass. He’s a defender who loves to defend via winning his individual duels, battling up against the strongest or quickest #9s, sweeping up loose balls in front of or behind the back-line, or just simply becoming literally the last line of defence.

His impeccable timing in last-ditch tackles and clearances underscores his commitment to protecting his territory.

In the instance below, Mosquera and his defensive teammates face an attacking threat. One pass to the attacker on the Spaniard’s right shoulder and he’d be in through on goal…

It’s important to note, though, that Mosquera’s positioning in this scenario is excellent. He has a view of the play and threat before him and is aware of the threat behind him…

…because of that, he’s perfectly able to intercept the pass and get Valencia on the attack.

In the defensive scenario below, the opposing attacker looks like he’s got the run on Mosquera and looks through on goal…

…but such situations don’t seem that relatively easy and plain-sailing when the 20-year-old is around. The Spaniard is quick, agile, and confident enough to stop the attacker getting a shot on goal…

Any kind of threat being formed in the Spaniard’s vicinity, he is always there to mop it up and deal with it.

An example of his excellent last-ditch defending through blocks is shown below.

The opposing attacker (ORANGE) has all the time and space in the D outside the penalty area to line up a shot on goal…

…but look at how quick Mosquera gets out to his man to stop him having an easy route to goal. His imposing frame and size, instant anticipation and reading of the situation completely diffuses the situation.

Take a look at the next example of Mosquera’s box defending, which is just as impressive.

The Spaniard is literally Valencia’s last hope as three of his teammates have been taken out of the scenario with a piercing run into the penalty box by an onrushing attacker…

However, as he approaches the box, his line of sight on goal decreases, once again because of Mosquera’s imposing frame, athleticism, speed and defensive reading…

The attacker tries to position himself to get a shot off, but Mosquera’s is always primed and ready to engage…

… and he does, blocking the shot and completely dispelling the danger.

Critics could argue that it’s a situation which many defenders should be dealing with, but trying to anticipate what an attacker does in that moment, whilst also possessing the presence of mind and quickness to follow the speed of the situation, is incredibly difficult.

But Mosquera makes it look relatively easy.

When faced with a striker playing with his back to goal, Mosquera stays tight and uses his size, strength and defensive nous to stop that forward getting any room for manoeuvre. When faced with a dangerous low cross into his penalty area he is, nine times out of ten, always the first one to deal with the cross.

For example, looking at his positioning below (RED).

Mosquera is positioned well and has excellent body alignment. He has a clear view of the ball as well as a complete view of his marker, which allows him to anticipate their efforts to get ahead of him for a potential cross.

Such defensive and positional understanding means he is primed and ready to deal with the cross…

What about dealing with situations when running towards his own goal? Well, you probably know the outcome.

In the instance below, once again, Mosquera’s positioning here is really good. He’s aware of what’s around him.

The player with the ball has a lot of space in behind Valencia’s defence to play a through pass for his teammate on Mosquera’s left shoulder…

Mosquera’s speed, positioning, anticipation and reading are once again put to the test, but it’s a test he passes with flying colours.

He’s always in control of the situation, and that’s down to his flawless speed when covering large spaces and also the speed at which he eats ground.

If the Spaniard had dabbled in a sport beyond basketball before his football career, one would inevitably envision him sprinting in the electrifying world of athletics or track and field.

With his explosive speed, athleticism and striking frame, he could undoubtedly rival Usain Bolt, making the race a breathtaking spectacle.

In any defensive situation, Mosquera is more than capable of fulfilling his responsibilities.

At just 20 years old, having such confidence, poise and decisiveness in his defending is truly remarkable and illustrates the journey and trajectory towards greatness that Mosquera is currently on.

The Art of Recovery

Mosquera’s prowess in recovery defending is undoubtedly one of his standout features, showcasing an impressive blend of athleticism and tactical awareness.

There are moments when the Spaniard’s eagerness to thwart onrushing attackers can lead him to leap out of his defensive line, passionately striving to eliminate the threat. While this intensity demonstrates his commitment, it can sometimes leave both him and his teammates vulnerable to counterattacks, creating gaps that opponents can exploit.

However, what truly elevates a centre-back to elite status is the ability to quickly reassess and respond to dangers that arise after making a miscalculation—whether that’s his own or due to a teammate’s error.

Take, for instance, elite centre-halves like Rudiger or Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, who embody this skill with remarkable finesse. They possess an uncanny ability to read the game, allowing them to recover seamlessly and mitigate threats, turning potential crises into manageable situations.

Mosquera, with his keen instincts, aspires to master this crucial aspect of his game, positioning himself among the top young defenders in Europe.

As mentioned previously, the Valencia academy product possesses incredible athleticism and speed; the way he eats ground when matching an attacker for pace is a phenomenal sight, utilising these attributes consistently to his advantage when eliminating threats or getting his team out of trouble.

In the below instance, the Spaniard is caught out by a long ball, hoping his teammate Dimitri Foulquier bails him out of trouble..

Foulquier fails to get rid of the ball, which squirms under him, giving the opposing attacker a chance to take advantage…

However, look at Mosquera’s recovery.

What seemed like a lost opportunity for the Spaniard to deal with the danger, he more than makes up for, rapidly eating up ground through excellent speed and agility and locking himself in a duel with the attacker…

A duel Mosquera wins with relative ease and confidence…

In another instance, against Atletico Madrid, Mosquera gets caught out of position with Antoine Griezmann, given ample time in between Valencia’s midfield and defence to exploit the gap in the last line and pick out Memphis Depay…

The Dutchman looks like he has all the time in the world to take his chance on goal, but once again, Mosquera bears down on his opponent quickly and precisely…

Instead of going for a left-foot shot, Depay tries to chop back onto his right – a skill he’s done time and time again throughout his decorated career – but Mosquera reads it brilliantly, deflecting the ball off his opponent for a goal kick.

The Spaniard is excellent at reading situations and dealing with them, but he’s also become a master at quickly rectifying individual mistakes due to his tremendous anticipation, athleticism and defensive awareness.

As of matchweek 31 in La Liga 2024/25, Mosquera recorded the most ball recoveries (180) of any player in the Spanish top-flight (ValenciaCF.com)

While many critics may insist that Mosquera must eliminate the occasional lapse in judgment—like the mistakes noted earlier, reminding us that it’s often better to prevent problems than to solve them—it’s important to recognize that these experiences will only serve to enhance the growth and development of the Los Che academy graduate.

Every error is a stepping stone on his path to becoming an even more formidable defender. Every defender makes mistakes, though, it’s almost part and parcel of the job description, just ask some of the best around, like Van Dijk or Antonio Rudiger. It’s how a defender responds in that moment to rectify them, or after the deed has been done, that defines their legacy.

Mosquera is certainly well on his way to writing his own given his stunning trajectory since his emergence on the scene, but still has a long way to go given he’s only 20 years of age.

Aerial efficiency or deficiency?

Aerial duels stand out as a significant concern in his overall performance profile, a point of worry that persists even when factoring in his age. Typically, athletes experience improvement in their aerial skills as they mature, which aligns with the natural biological progression of the human body.

During the teenage years, athletes undergo substantial physical development, and this maturation process continues well into their late 20s.

When we look at Mosquera’s aerial statistics, the situation becomes even more troubling. He consistently ranks among the lowest in the category of aerial duels won per 90 minutes across Europe’s top five leagues, placing him in the bottom six percentile among his positional counterparts.

This statistic is particularly perplexing, especially considering his impressive physique and athletic build. He possesses a long, rangy frame that suggests he should excel in aerial contests. Additionally, he demonstrates remarkable leaping ability for someone of his stature, often appearing poised in the air. Despite these physical advantages, he tends to be more effective at making crucial connections while defending against early crosses, ensuring he often gets the first touch.

As previously noted, his ability to read the game is already highly developed, showcasing an understanding of positioning and timing that belies his youth. His jumping prowess inspires confidence that he should be a strong contender in aerial situations.

Despite the current statistics falling short of expectations, it is important to remember that at just 20 years old, Mosquera has ample time to refine his skills. With continued development, he will likely rank among the elite in aerial defending, transforming potential into consistent performance.

Ball-progression/passing

In the modern game, the role of the centre-back has evolved dramatically. These defenders are now not just stalwarts of the backline; they are pivotal playmakers who initiate attacks from deep within their own half. The expectation is to exhibit exceptional passing abilities, allowing them to seamlessly transition from defence to offence.

In addition to technical prowess, modern centre-backs must possess keen tactical awareness, demonstrating the ability to read the game and make split-second decisions, even under immense pressure when their team is building from the back. They must exhibit keen confidence on the ball, composure and good pass selection to seamlessly get their team into the attacking phase of play.

Valencia are not known for being one of the possession-focused teams in La Liga, and they rank among the lowest in terms of time spent on the ball as a collective unit. Therefore, evaluating Mosquera’s passing ability may not provide a complete picture.

However, according to the statistics, the Spaniard is a safe, low-risk passer. He ranks in the 44th percentile among centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive passes per 90 minutes, indicating he falls into the lower bracket for this particular attribute. There is a case to argue that the system deployed at Valencia may be the cause for him not being as progressive as he should be.

Once he makes the move to an elite side in the near future, those progressive attributes may be exerted with much more confidence and comfort.

Nonetheless, Mosquera excels in pass completion percentage, ranking in the top 15% with a remarkable completion rate of 90.9% over the past year.

Just because Mosquera may not exert as many proactive qualities in his passing at Valencia, given his deceptive technical acumen, doesn’t mean he isn’t a progressive outlet.

The Spaniard is proactive through other means and arguably the rarest attribute for a centre-back, his dribbling/ball-carrying.

If the situation presents itself, the 20-year-old possesses the presence of mind, athleticism and excellent ball control to travel with the ball at his feet to force his team up the pitch or evade a tight situation.

Like the instance below…

Mosquera, playing for the Spanish under-21s, has the ball deep in his own half with an onrushing attacker attempting to press him and force a mistake.

The Spaniard can’t pass to his teammate alongside him as he is also being pressed. He may have to switch it across to find a teammate in space…

Instead, Mosquera does exceptionally well to con and evade his marker with excellent body deception and movement…

…opening up a passing lane to find his teammate in midfield, aiding ball progression by working around the opponent’s press…

In another similar instance, Mosquera holds the ball in a pressurised situation..

…but has no problem bypassing his opponent, showing him one way before shifting the ball quickly the opposite way and driving forward…

The Spaniard then has to pick his pass right, but isn’t given the best of options to aid progression, with his teammates all bunched up in the same vicinity, but it’s no problem…

He drives forward a few yards more…

…before picking out his attacking teammate in a bit of space to build an attacking scenario.

Mosquera’s dribble take-on success rate stands at 63%, which is a very decent mark for a centre-back ranking in the 69th percentile, showing he is more selective when he dribbles the ball out with his feet, choosing to take players on and carry the ball when it is most opportune.

Again, the above instances are only too small a sample size to fully judge Mosquera on, but it’s a small indication that he holds all the attributes to be a top-level progressive centre-back, capable of getting the ball forward quickly through quick thinking and incisive decisions once being pressed.

Future Mosquera Forecast

In a matter of two seasons, Cristhian Mosquera has already established himself as one of the best defenders in La Liga.

Boasting a formidable physique, exhilarating athleticism, and lightning-fast speed, Mosquera is an immovable force at the heart of defence. His remarkable physical strength and astute defensive awareness set him apart as the quintessential modern-day centre back.

It’s no wonder that he is frequently compared to the likes of Antonio Rudiger from Real Madrid, as both share an impressive ability to dominate their opponents and command the defensive line with authority.

And the way his current trajectory is heading right now, it won’t be a surprise to see the Spaniard surpass the former Chelsea man.

At 20 years old, he’s already got some of Europe’s biggest names tracking his progress at the Mestalla Stadium, including AC Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich (Sky Sports journo Florian Plettenberg).

Judging by the way he’s excelling so far, especially under Carlos Corberan’s management, he’d certainly fit right in at any of those clubs.

When considering the potential of a young talent like Mosquera to integrate into elite football clubs, it’s essential to analyse the tactical frameworks employed by these teams.

Each club’s style of play, formation, and player roles can significantly influence whether Mosquera can flourish in that environment.

A club like Bayern Munich is certainly more progressive and positional focused than the others, but the Spanish youngster has shown he can fulfil the role of a progressive centre-back. At a club like Atletico Madrid, where Diego Simeone expects his CBs to dominate their box, be physical up against the markers, and defend at all costs more than a progressive outlet, Mosquera certainly fits the bill.

Whatever role you want Mosquera to fill, he’d have no problems acclimatising himself.

In a back three as a wide-centre-back or a central one or as one of the two centre-backs in a back four, the Spaniard is incredibly versatile and adaptable, making him one of the most attractive options in the market for any potential suitor.

He will certainly need to continue to make giant strides in his passing and aerial duels, but there is reason to believe all three areas will improve as his play evolves. 

It won’t be long before we see this incredibly gifted young talent playing at the highest levels, both at club and on the international stage. When coming through Valencia’s academy, that’s certainly the expectation for its young academy products, as seen throughout the club’s decorated history.

Mosquera is up next and ready to take that giant step towards the elites.

Meet Dinamo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina: The Next Luka Modric?

Meet Dinamo Zagreb’s Martin Baturina: The Next Luka Modric?

After a runner-up finish in the 2018 World Cup and a third-placed achievement at the 2022 edition, the Croatian national football team have arguably reached the end of their impressive cycle.

Manager Zlatko Dalić has done tremendously in leading his talented group of players to consistently punch above their weight against some of the elite nations in the world but sadly, such achievements have a shelf life in football.

Dalić remains the Croatian manager after nearly seven years in the job and will be entrusted to lead them again for this summer’s upcoming 2024 European Championships and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

However, whatever happens in Germany, the Croatian Federation and Dalić know they are in for a significant rebuild to ensure the teams stay competitive in future competitions.

Players who have been go-to players for the Croatian coach are certainly on their last stretch at international level; Marcelo Brozovic, Domagoj Vida, Ivan Perisic, Mislav Orsic and Andrej Kramarić have all been crucial components throughout Dalic’s reign.

Though one name considered one of the most decorated performers of all time not just in his beloved country, reaching the latter stages of his fledgling and Ballon d’Or-filled career is one Luka Modric.

Euro 2024 is sure to be – albeit sadly – the Real Madrid superstar’s last international tournament before hanging up his boots.

Croatia need a viable and quality successor to step into Modric’s shoes and one young prodigious talent making shockwaves across Southeastern Europe is Dinamo Zagreb’s midfield maestro Martin Baturina.

The 21-year-old has already in his short career drawn favourable comparisons to Modric and could yet be the next big-money departure from Zagreb, following in the footsteps of the likes of the Real Madrid icon, Mateo Kovacic and most recent departures in Josip Šutalo (Ajax – £17.6m) to Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig – £31.6m & Manchester City – £78m).

The son of former Croatia international Mate Baturina has proven indispensable for a Dinamo Zagreb side that has just claimed its record 25th and seventh straight Croatian top-division title.

The wonderkid has enjoyed another successful campaign in the first team, registering five goals and five assists after a sensational breakthrough season during the 2022/23 campaign where he notched six goals and a whopping 12 assists.

The Zagreb academy graduate has been linked with European giants Arsenal and Juventus over the past year, once again highlighting how highly thought of he is within Europe.

Baturina is now being considered the future of Croatian football and the ideal heir to Modric’s prestigious and decorated thrown.

As pressurising as that may be for the 21-year-old talent, the huge acclaim placed on his shoulders isn’t inflated at all, this is an exceptional talent but how has he got to this position and what makes him so special?

Who is Martin Baturina?

Born in Split, Croatia on 16 February 2003, Baturina is a product of the much-famed Dinamo de Zagreb academy.

Being in the academy since the 2017/18 season, he has been a fast burner, staying only for a season in all the academy squads (junior, U17, U19, second team) before making his debut and establishing himself as a key element and vital player for arguably one of the biggest Croatian clubs in history.

Baturina made his debut for Dinamo Zagreb II in February 2021, in a 1-0 defeat to Bijelo Brdo and it only took a few months before he made his first team bow for Zagreb in May 2021, featuring in a 3-0 league win over Gorica.

The Croat bagged his first goal for the club in March 2022, a 3–0 victory over Šibenik, before playing a significant role in their 2021/22 final matchday 3-1 win over his hometown club Hajduk Split.

He would go on to feature regularly both in the domestic cups and in Europe that year and the 2022/23 campaign was certainly the year, Martin Baturina made his exceptional breakthrough for Zagreb.

In September 2022, Baturina made his UEFA Champions League bow for the Croatian giants, featuring in a 1-0 win against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, a result which compounded the German to his unfortunate sacking by the new Stamford Bridge co-owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s Behdad Eghbali.

The youngster only made a five-minute cameo for Zagreb but that campaign would go on to be his best for the club, registering seven goals and 13 assists from 49 games in all competitions [Transfermarkt].

The 2022/23 campaign certainly established Baturina as one of Croatia’s most gifted footballing products and he’s carried that on to this season, registering six goals and nine assists, eight of those coming in the league as Zagreb recorded their seventh straight SuperSport HNL league title.

His stunning trajectory and consistent form for Zagreb have deservedly handed the midfielder national acclaim.

Having featured in all of Croatia’s youth groups, including making 14 appearances for the under-21s, Baturina was rewarded with his first call-up to Zlatko Dalic’s senior set-up for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, making his debut as a substitute in a 2-0 away win against Latvia back in November.

With Dalić set to name his 26-man squad for this summer’s UEFA European Championships in the coming weeks, Baturina is sure to be rewarded with his continued success at club level with a spot on the plane to Germany – a summer which will signal the end of an era for Croatia but the ushering in of a new one, one which Baturina will arguably be the face of.

Martin Baturina’s Style of Play

There’s an intentional reason why Baturina is drawing stark comparisons to Modric and it’s not just because they play the same position on a football pitch.

Standing at 72cm (5’8”) and weighing 68kg (149lbs), the Zagreb wonder is a diminutive and silky technician possessing a skilful right foot and low centre of gravity, which enables him to twist and turn out of pressure and tight spaces.

Remind you of anyone? Modric in his days at Dinamo Zagreb come Tottenham Hotspur held the exact same technical profile and like Baturina, was considered the topic of the whole nation bursting onto the scene on one of Europe’s biggest platforms.

However, when watching the Split-born sensation, he draws even more comparisons to another unique outlet in Croatian football (read on to see or even guess who).

Zagreb’s Linchpin

The 21-year-old has become a dynamic and crucial presence in the Zagreb midfield, usually performing the role of an attacking midfielder, just behind the main striker or in a left-sided advanced #8 role in a 4-3-3 setup with a licence to roam the half-space or find decisive pockets in between the opposition’s defensive line and midfield.

Before delving into Baturina’s style and influence, it’s important to identify the tactical conditions allowing the Croat wonderkid to express himself and fulfil his undoubted potential.

Zagreb are one of the teams in 1. HNL who dominate the ball and control games, and Baturina is often a big part of that possession-heavy approach.

The Croatian giants line up regularly in a flexible and fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, with Baturina at the forefront of the system, becoming the link between midfield and attack. As stated previously, he is handed the license to roam into space/pockets to disrupt and dissect low blocks.

Their system can alternate from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-1-2 but one constant aspect is that Baturina will always remain their creative linchpin.

This is clearly evident through the numbers. Within Europe’s next 14 competitions after the top five leagues, Baturina ranks in the top 13% of attacking midfielders for passes received per 90, pass completion % per 90, and ranks in the top 11% for passes attempted.

While he isn’t necessarily a tempo setter or a deep-lying presence, Baturina certainly likes to be highly involved and needs to touch the ball often to maximise his influence.

It is why he possesses the tendency to drop deep from his #10 position and get involved with the build-up to progress the ball through passing – ranking in the top 9 per cent of attacking midfielders for progressive passes per 90 – or through ball-carrying, also ranking in the top 15% for progressive carries per 90 and top 16% for successful take-ons per 90 highlighting his tremendous bravery and technical acumen.

Looking at Baturina’s season heatmap, it’s clear his influence has come from the left half-spaces, allowing him to find the perfect angles to thread through balls or unleash long-range shots.

As stated previously, Baturina loves to drop deep and advance high up the pitch, as well as operating centrally or out wide, depending on the team’s needs or where he feels he could make the most impact.

For example, in the image above, Baturina emerges with the ball wide-right with the opposition stretched, he dissects a sublime through ball for Luka Stojkovic at the other end to latch onto and score.

Judging by Baturina’s technical and tactical understanding, movements and selection of positions and space in the middle and attacking third, he is incredibly versatile and flexible in his approach.

It is quite difficult to pin him down solely as a #10 or a #8 but a player of the hybrid mould. To get more out of his game, a deeper role in the #8 seems the way to go for him, just like the great Modric evolved into as his career progressed.

Ball-carrying merchant

Baturina is an all-phase midfielder who likes to be as involved as possible, registering touches across the thirds. Considering he is among the most influential and involved players in his position and considering Zagreb’s possession-orientated approach, it doesn’t surprise us that the Split-born playmaker is also a good recycler and retainer of possession, as the numbers above show.

However, while he likes to come deep to get involved with the play, it wouldn’t be true to define him as an elite ball progressor. Certainly, he can do it, but the midfielder holds a strong preference in his game to receive the ball and beat his marker to break lines through carrying rather than passing – that’s where he probably differs from his potential predecessor, Modric.

Ranking in the 84th percentile of attacking midfielders for successful take-ons per 90, 85th percentile for progressive carries, 93rd percentile for progressive carrying distance and in the 99th percentile for carries into the final third per 90, it is easy to see why Baturina loves his ball-carrying and he is so graceful and classy with it.

Not only does Baturina hold similar characteristics to Modric, but he’s more of a Mateo Kovacic 2.0.

Take the below instance during a Croatia under-21 fixture against England under-21s, Baturina is surrounded by white shirts and looks like he’s about to be swarmed all over and dispossessed.

Given Baturina’s dribbling quality, ball control and press resistance, he’s able to weave his way out of the tight spot…

And drive his team into the final third with such class and finesse.

He is the player with the second-most total progressive carries in the 2023/24 campaign in Croatia (55) and third in progressive carries per 90 minutes (3.7) at the moment of writing.

The 21-year-old uses ball-carrying as a progression tool in deeper areas and as a creation tool in higher ones. While he’s clearly intentional and purposeful with his passing, it’s safe to categorize him as a dribble-first progressor.

He’s not only a tremendous dribbler, keeping the ball close to feint past defenders or change direction but he’s also quick, agile and his ball-carrying style is enhanced by his ability to reach top speeds within an instant and his low centre of gravity – it is extremely difficult to possess him, leaving the opposition with the only real option of fouling him.

As a result of these characteristics, Baturina has no problems whatsoever, receiving the ball with his back to goal.

He will twist and turn to evade the pressure, beat the marker and then conquer territory through his carries, as shown below.

The 21-year-old’s frame gives him agility and flexibility to outmanoeuvre his markers, akin to what Kovacic does so regularly at Manchester City in the Premier League and for Croatia.

It’s how Baturina performs these actions that will stand him in good stead when competing at the elite level every week.

Elite clubs in Europe are always on the prowl for midfielders like Baturina because of his pure and unique ability to evade pressure through the thirds – a very useful tool in disrupting mid-defensive blocks but also allowing for easy and swift access into the attacking third.

Ball progression must equal final-third creation

There’s a reason why Baturina is considered the complete advanced or free #8 package and that’s because of his excellence not just in his mode of ball-progression but that progression leading to goal-scoring scenarios.

He is an effortless creator as much as a unique outlet in his incisive dribbling.

First and foremost, not all of Baturina’s entries into the final third won’t always result in a chance or opportunity but he’s a player who picks his passes well.

The 21-year-old will sometimes carry the ball before linking up with a teammate out wide and then continue his run to provide the team with another advanced passing option.

Once he eventually receives in a high and wide position, his threat and ability in tight spaces usually means he attracts two markers before retaining the ball nonetheless and laying it off to a teammate who is now free thanks to his efforts.

Baturina is so crucial to Dinamo Zagreb’s progression tactics; he evades pressure, provides and creates advanced passing options, and successfully connects the thirds from deeper to higher zones of the pitch.

The advanced playmaker has a clear skillset to influence play and his team’s tactics higher up the pitch. This season, he’s racked up six goals and nine assists from all competitions, a drop-off from 7 goals and 13 assists from last campaign but his contributions and influence are absolutely clear.

Along with nine assists in all competitions, Baturina averages 2.3 key passes per game in the Croatian top flight, has created seven big chances and ranks in the 76th percentile of attacking midfielders in Europe’s next top 14 leagues for through balls.

While the 21-year-old cracks the top 30 in 1. HNL in total key passes played in 2023/24 (6), his per 90 return is not as impressive (0.4). He ranks 12th in the league for smart passes (9) and 15th in smart passes per 90 (0.6). 

We now know Baturina is a smart passer, a player blessed with tremendous vision and quickness of thought in the middle third, but how does that translate to where it matters most – the final third?

The two-cap Croatian international is pretty versatile in his final third distribution. Often, we will see him distribute from the deep and into the runners, but when he gets higher up the pitch, he has no issues breaking the lines and sending a pinpoint pass to the feet of his teammates.

More crucially, he’s proven decisive and influential with his passing in the attacking third.

In the below image, for instance, Baturina (RED) receives the ball in between a crowd of players. Where some #10s choose to distribute it out wide, the Croat is looking for runners instead.

Baturina picks out Stojkovic (ORANGE) with a sublime dinked through ball…

This is what makes Baturina so special and an influential component in the Zagreb team, especially in the higher zones.

He’s not just capable of the penetrating, line-breaking carries through the thirds, but once he gets into the attacking third, he’s composed, agile and adept at selecting the right actions leading to shots. He ranks in the 73rd percentile of attacking midfielders for shot-creating live-ball passes per 90 (live-ball passes that lead to a shot).

The young Blue can also whip in delicious and dangerous crosses, either through set-piece routines or from open play.

Before the young playmaker gets into this crossing position, he once again finds an opportunity to drift out wide and pull the opposition’s defence to one side which leads to Stefan Ristovski ghosting into the box unmarked…

Baturina delivers a picture-perfect cross, evading every one of the opposition’s defenders…

Laid right on the money of Ristovski’s right foot to score beneath a sprawling goalkeeper…

Again, we see the technical acumen of the 21-year-old talent. He’s added so many creative strings to his bow during his two breakthrough seasons at Zagreb making him an attractive midfield proposition for several of Europe’s top clubs.

Shooting

Another strength of Baturina’s game is his long shots. Whenever he finds himself in space on the edge of the box, he’s never afraid to test the goalkeeper from distance, making him a deadly threat from the #10 position.

Whilst he’s more of a creative dynamo, his shooting technique certainly makes him an important factor for his team.

Baturina seems pretty good at finding decent positions to shoot from, and this should, in theory, also predict a positive net return in the near future. His shot type is pretty meticulous and intentional, trying to put some dip to fool goalkeepers and curl when faced with defenders right up in his line of sight as a tool to find the right trajectory and angle for his attempts.

The 20-year-old is very good at manipulating the ball in tight areas, turning and progressing into a good position to shoot from. This is another thing we have to mention that is impacting both his xG per shot and his total output – shooting from a distance.

Last season, he made 13 shots from outside the box in 1. HNL, hitting the target five times and rattling the inside of the net once from those five attempts; all things considered, a decent return.

This season, he’s attempted eight shots outside the box, hitting the target three times, but with no goals to his name. His conversion rate this season compared to last season may well have dipped, but playing in a team that regularly dominates the ball up against deep blocks, Baturina is doing what’s required – taking long shots when necessary, a tool incredibly useful in breaching stout defences.

Off-ball movement

Another tool in Baturina’s unique and heavy artillery is his off-ball movement.

As we’ve pointed out in this piece, Baturina receives the ball in deep zones, directly from the backline and then carries the ball for a certain distance before linking up with a teammate out wide.

However, as all great advanced midfielders do, they’re not supposed to stop there. The Croat possesses the presence of mind to continue his runs, exploiting gaps or little pockets in between the lines or half-spaces to operate in.

Apart from offering himself as a passing option, he also creates space by dragging his markers away, making a gap in the opposition’s defensive structure for his teammates to exploit.

The 21-year-old operates like a player certainly beyond his years, and it is why the comparisons to Modric and Kovacic are so stark and accurate.

He’s street smart, possessing stunning technical and tactical understanding but a raft of tools in his weaponry that also makes him such a decisive and influential player in the final third.

Forecast for Baturina’s Future

Better consistency with the Croat wonderkid’s output will surely take his game to the next level, but one thing is certain, Baturina will be the next big-money departure from Zagreb.

An exhilarating and tantalising footballing prospect who’s bound to leave Croatia to eventually join one of the European powerhouses, should his development continue following the current trajectory.

Arsenal and Juventus are the previous names linked with his services over the past year, but they certainly won’t be the only ones this summer.

Like many other hot talents, Baturina will need to pick his next destination with careful consideration, providing him with the appropriate and progressive conditions to thrive tactically, mentally and physically.

Joining clubs such as a Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, AFC Ajax or a similar-sized outfit in Serie A – where young talents can go to and perform every week without unnecessary pressure and weight of expectation might just be the perfect platform.

Given his burgeoning reputation right now within Croatian football, it will be easy for him to make the huge step to a big club so soon – one he must avoid. Nonetheless, playing within Europe’s top five leagues must be high on his agenda, then he’d be sure to get the international recognition his talents and personality deserve.

Modric 2.0 isn’t a far-fetched label for Martin Baturina. He truly is on course to become the next best thing to come out of Croatia.