Man United and Real Madrid keen on 16-year-old Croatian wonderkid

Europe’s top clubs are chasing the latest teen sensation to emerge from Croatia, 16-year-old midfield wonderkid Alen Halilović.

The Dinamo Zagreb talent has already attracted comparisons with Real Madrid’s £33m signing Luka Modrić due to their similar playing styles and physical likeness.

Halilović is over a decade younger than fellow countryman Modrić, but has grown up watching the former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker help turn Croatia into an international force.

Possessing the same long blonde locks, Halilović also appears to have the passing ability and long-range shooting skills as the 27-year-old Zagreb graduate.

However, Halilović’s ability to beat defenders, his blistering pace and excellent left foot suggest greater potential than his elder, although you could be forgiven for mistaking the two in a line-up.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was keen on signing Luka Modrić from Dinamo Zagreb before he moved to North London for £16.5m in 2008.

And it seems Fergie is keen to snap up Modrić’s potential successor in the Croatian national team to make up missing out first time around.

However, with a number of Champions League clubs tracking Zagreb’s Halilović, competition for his signature will be fierce.

José Mourinho is among the managers interested in striking a deal with the Prva Liga side, hoping to join Halilović with Modrić at the Bernabéu.

For the time being it seems Dinamo’s young number 10 is happy to stay in his homeland, biding his time before a move to the continent.

Although his development is progressing at a rate of knots, and it may not be long before the youngster is at the centre of a bidding frenzy from Europe’s elite.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing