Two Croatian footballers, Antonio Marin and Ante Palaversa, have been selected as the world’s greatest young talents.
Rarely in the football world is there a selection of the best teenage players that does not feature a Croat. Recall, it was Alen Halilović, Ante Ćorić, Andrija Balić, Josip Brekalo and more.
And in 2019, it is Antonio Marin and Ante Palaversa to claim Croatia’s teenage football success, reports 24 Sata on March 21, 2019.
Namely, the world’s biggest football portal, Goal.com, selected the 50 greatest teenage talents of the world. In their NxGn choice is Dinamo striker Antonio Marin, ranked 43rd, and Manchester City midfielder on loan to Hajduk, Ante Palaversa, in 45th place. Recall, Palaversa signed for Manchester City after the winter transfer deadline in January. Hajduk received 4.8 million euro for the transfer (+ an additional 1.5 million when the loan ends), and Palaversa will stay on loan to Hajduk until the summer of 2020.
For Ante Palaversa, Goal.com writes:
“Manchester City didn’t want to run the risk of missing out on one of Croatia’s most exciting prospects so they wrapped up a £7m ($9.1m) deal for Ante Palaversa in January. The all-action midfielder, who is equally adept at screening the defence or playing just behind the forwards, has been a regular for Hajduk Split this season and will continue his rapid development with his hometown club before moving to the Etihad in 2020.”
And for Antonio Marin:
“Before signing his first professional contract with Dinamo Zagreb in October 2017 Antonio Marin was courted by the likes of AC Milan, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. Their interest was understandable. The 18-year-old Marin, who has already debuted in Croatia’s top flight, is a two-footed left winger with fantastic footwork and devastating dribbling skills.”
Borussia Dortmund attacker Jadon Sancho was named the winner of the 2019 NxGn selection and is followed by Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea, England), Phil Foden (Manchester City, England), and Rodrygo (Santos, Brazil) in the top five.
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