Footballing legend Luka Modric has outlined a key player Celtic must keep an eye on when they face Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League in December.
The Hoops travel to Croatia 15 days before Christmas as they seek a rare away victory in European competition.
Zagreb is arguably one of their more favourable ties on foreign soil. While the Croatian champions lost 9-2 to Bayern Munich on matchday one, they were a last-minute equaliser away from defeating current French Ligue 1 leaders Monaco a week and a half ago.
Nenad Bjelica’s side will prove an arduous test for Celtic, especially at their own ground.
Among several quality assets, they have a key up-and-coming talent the Bhoys must nullify.
Young midfielder Martin Baturina has registered six assists in just eight Croatian top-flight appearances so far this season, scoring once along the way, too.
The versatile 21-year-old has been labelled the ‘next Luka Modric’, with the Real Madrid man recently commenting on his abilities.
“Marta is on his way, he’s a great talent, that’s for sure,” he said (RecordSport).
“Now, it’s up to him to train and work hard. I believe one day he’ll be a key player for the national team, as I was. Or as I am. He has a lot of potential and quality. But it’s up to him. He has to improve every day and learn.”
Baturina couldn’t have a better master to learn from.
Celtic fans will hope he doesn’t haunt the Hoops as Modric did at Parkhead a few years ago when he scored an outside-of-the-boot stunner in a 3-0 victory for Real Madrid.
It was a night of missed chances for the Bhoys against the Spanish giants. Brendan Rodgers’ men need an opposite clinical edge in front of goal if they are to take anything home from Croatia in a few months.