Italy’s €80 million price tag forces Villa to decide on Baturina

Aston Villa face an €80 million decision over Croatian midfielder Martin Baturina, the Dinamo Zagreb graduate lighting up Serie A with Como under Cesc Fàbregas, as Italy reports the club has set an €80 million price tag. Reports from Italy indicate Villa have already tabled an opening bid of €50 million to €55 million, which Como dismissed outright.

The Serie club insists the Croatian international will not leave until 2030, demanding €80 million or no deal. Roberto Olabe, Aston Villa’s sporting director, has already staked a bold opening offer, but Como’s refusal signals a clear stance.

Martin Baturina, 23, arrived in Italy last summer for €18 million from Dinamo Zagreb and has since delivered eight goals and four assists in 34 appearances. His ability to drift inside from the left flank aligns with Unai Emery’s preference for narrow, possession‑heavy systems.

Transfermarkt still values Baturina around €30 million, less than half of the €80 million asking price. The Croatian outlet 24 Sata notes that despite Croatia’s underwhelming World Cup, his market value has surged, reinforcing Como’s intransigence.

Villa, a Premier League side, must navigate strict squad‑cost rules, and allocating a large portion of their summer budget to a single Serie A breakthrough risks overshooting their financial model. The squad’s most pressing need is pace, not another deep‑lying playmaker, with alternatives such as Karim Adeyemi or Jonathan Rowe offering the direct, touchline‑hugging threat Villa requires.

Tottenham and Bayern Munich are also monitoring Baturina, highlighting the broader European market where Serie A breakout stars command inflated fees this summer. Yet the €80 million tag tests even the deepest pockets, as clubs weigh technical upside against structural squad deficiencies.