SUPER MARIO SCOTT BURNS
Croatia U-21 boss Biscan tips £5m Hoops target Vuskovic to become full international and knock former Liverpool stopper Lovren out the team
IGOR BISCAN believes Celtic target Mario Vuskovic has the potential and ability to break into the Croatia team and split the long-term partnership of Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida.
The Hoops are closing in on a £5million deal for the highlytalented Hajduk Split ace. The 19-year-old is already a regular in the Under-21 team and national boss Biscan knows he can go all the way to the top. Experienced defenders Lovren and Vida have held the successful Croatia team together in recent seasons and got them to the final of the 2018 World Cup. They also helped to end Scotland’s summer dream as Luka Modric and Co progressed, only to crash out to Spain last night. And Biscan believes Vuskovic and Josko Gvardiol will be the long-term linchpins in the Croatian national team. He said: “Mario has been a regular in the Croatian national teams from Under-16 to Under21s. He’s still only 19 but I expect that he will go on to become a full Croatian international. “Gvardiol is already in the full Croatian national team at Euro 2020 and it would look like he and Mario will be big defensive players for us if they keep progressing the way they are in their respective careers. “It is clear they both have big futures ahead of them.” The Celtic defence struggled to withstand the physical firepower of rivals
Rangers last season and finding a solution is a priority.
Biscan knows that if Vuskovic was to complete his move to Glasgow, he would not only bring a calmness and defensive stability, but he also likes to get on the ball and build from the back.
The former Liverpool star explained: “Mario likes to be on the ball. He is a modern day defender. He is good and solid defensively but he also likes to get on the ball and to play from the back.
“He is an exceptional passer and can build the play from the back.
“He has been a main part of my Croatian Under-21 team and his range of passing has been a big part of our play. He can pass it short to penetrate the lines or he is equally accurate hitting a longer more direct diagonal ball if needed. His technique is exceptional for such a young player.”
It may not be a massive surprise as football runs in the Vuskovic family.
His grandfather also played for Hajduk Split and his dad was also a professional footballer.
New Celtic boss Ange Postlecoglou might well be looking to Vuskovic to keep goals out but Biscan knows he can also bang them in at the other end. The coach admitted that a major asset of the teenager is his free kicking taking, which could well see him push in front of the likes of David Turnbull and Leigh Griffiths. Biscan explained: “Mario is a defender but he can also be dangerous at the other end of the pitch. He has also scored a few goals for Hajduk and the Croatia Under-21 side.
“Another big strength of his is his dead-ball skills.
“He is a very good free kick taker and scores a lot of goals. He has a natural ability but, in fairness, he also works on his free kicks.”
There might be concerns that Celtic are paying a lot of money for a lot of potential.
Biscan knows Vuskovic better than most and he is well aware that there is very little chance of his shrinking under his big-money price-tag.
He points to the fact that he has come through the ranks and flourished at Hajduk Split, one of the most demanding clubs in Croatia. The likes of Serie A side Napoli have already tried to land him in the past.
Biscan said: “Mario is a very, very talented player. He is very technical and a top young player. I genuinely believe that if he keeps progressing and improving like he has over the last year or so will get even better and will become a top, top player.
“It has really helped him that he has been playing regular first-team football with Hajduk Split.
“Hajduk are a big club in Croatia and there is always a lot of pressure on their players to do well and to perform. It can be hard for a young player
coming through but Mario has been brilliant for Hajduk.
“He has just grown and grown and now he is a main player for Hajduk and a big favourite for the club. There have also been talk of a lot of big clubs being interested in Mario before Celtic but that hasn’t fazed him either.
“I am sure that will continue to be the case whether he stays at Hajduk, goes to Scotland or elsewhere next season.”
Mario is a defender but he can also be dangerous at other end of the pitch IGOR BISCAN RATES THE IN-DEMAND VUSKOVIC