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  • EXCLUSIVE: Ones to watch - 5 emerging stars from Croatia
EXCLUSIVE: Ones to watch - 5 emerging stars from Croatia

EXCLUSIVE: Ones to watch - 5 emerging stars from Croatia

Serie A is used to welcoming some of Croatia’s best footballing talent, Brozovic, Vrsaljko, Konacic,  Mandzukic, Kalinic and Perisic all prime examples of players who have arrived in Italy via different channels but have been allowed to express their talents in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues. We now take a look at five players, currently under 21, whose names many Sporting Directors would be advised to have in their notebooks.
 
Marko PJACA (1995) – Pjaca is a name that may be familiar to fans of Inter and Juventus having been linked with a move to both clubs last summer. The Croatian playmaker can operate from the right wing or as an attacking midfielder. Having gone into double figures for goals scored for a second consecutive season, the youngster will probably spend at least one more season at his current club Dinamo Zagred before moving to one of Europe’s major leagues. His current market value is around €10-15 million.
 
Nikola VLASIC (1997) – Despite the dominance in Croatia if Dinamo Zagreb, there are other teams producing good quality young player. Hadjuk Split can boast 18-year-old midfielder Nikola Vlasic who has produced some quality displays in a struggling team. His imposing presence has made him a first-team regular over the past two years and has been tracked for some time by Inter and Napoli. A bid of around €8 million could prize him away from his current employer.
 
Ante CORIC (1997) – Back to Dinamo Zagreb we go for 19-year-old attacking midfielder Ante Coric who has been compared in his homeland to Zvonimir Boban. According to the press in England, Pep Guardiola wants him at Manchester City next season and for around €12 million, he can probably have him. The boy wants regular first-team football however and how Milan would love him to follow in the footsteps of his idol.
 
Fran TUDOR (1995) - This year one of the best players in the championship is a distant relative of former Juventino defender Tudor. Unlike his relative, Fran is a right footed midfielder who is just as adept at playing in an attacking wing-back role. His endless energy makes him an exact copy of Alessandro Florenzi and Sassuolo are already tracking his development. The 20-year-old currently plays for Hadjuk Split and a fee of €4 million could take him to Di Francesco’s team; if Vrsaljko departs.
 
Josip BREKALO (1998) – The youngest of all our rising stars and another product off the production line at Dinamo Zagreb. His displays at the Under 17 European Championships and World Cup, have gained him recognition all over Europe. The 17-year-old midfielder was named his country’s best player at the latter and his displays in the Uefa Youth League, has alerted both Bayern Munich and Arsenal. The Bavarian giants have described him as the new Ribery, and he has already written himself into Dinamo folklore having scored against bitter rivals Hadjuk Split.


Adapted from an original article by Aleksandar Miljkovic. Translation by Steve Mitchell

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