Introducing Dinamo Zagreb wonderkid Alen Halihovic

• Name: Alen Halilović 
• Date of Birth: 18 June 1996 
• Nationality: Croatian 
• Position: Central-midfielder 
• Club: GNK Dinamo Zagreb

Alen Halilović is the son of former Real Valladolid and Bosnia midfielder Sejad Halilović, who is now part of the coaching staff at Dinamo Zagreb. By 2011, aged just 14, the youngster had been spotted by Real Madrid at a youth tournament and came close to joining Los Merengues, having had no official contract with the Croatian side at the time. However, Dinamo were not to surrender their talent easily and the club temporarily suspended both Alen and his father for negotiating with the Spanish side, with FIFA rules prohibiting international transfers before the age of 18. Faced with the prospect of over three years without playing competitive football, Halilović agreed a new four-year scholarship contract with Dinamo and has since revealed a desire to remain at the club for some time yet.

In the summer of 2012, a 16-year-old Alen signed a first professional contract with the club, having excelled in the club’s junior ranks and, by mid-September, was called-up to train with the first-team squad – a move which brought the youngster to the attention of the wider European media. On 30 September 2012, Halilović Jr. was handed his senior debut, coming on as a substitute in the club’s 3-1 victory over traditional rivals Hajduk Split.

Style of Play: 

Halilović is often compared to fellow countryman Luka Modrić, with both players bearing a significant resemblance in both playing style and appearance. The Dinamo youngster stands at just 1.70m (5’7″) and, as with his compatriot, is only slight in physical build, however he uses his excellent close control to shield the ball well from more physical opponents at youth level.

A central attacking-midfielder, Halilović is heavily biased towards his left-foot, with which he has been a regular goal-scorer at youth level thanks to his ability to finish precisely from both inside and outside the box. The starlet has also been somewhat of a set-piece specialist in the youth ranks. While his speed and excellent technique allow him to skip past players at youth level with ease, it will be interesting to see how he comes to deal with more experienced, stronger defenders now he has started to make strides in the first-team.

As with the majority of top players in his position, Halilović has the ability to turn on a sixpence with the ball at his feet, leading defenders to naturally back-off and afford him time in possession. However, given the quality of his left-foot, his natural inclination is generally to look to move the ball onto that side and there perhaps needs to be more variation to his game. Besides that, in the coming years, he will want to work on his core body strength in order to step up to higher levels.

What Others Say:

1. Dinamo Zagreb academy director Romea Jozaka.

"He is an extraordinary talent. Incredibly powerful with the ball for his age. We know that he's been mentioned throughout Europe as the best we'll see in the next few years in his position,"

"He has a unique technical ability and a great knack of finding his teammates with the ball. In one on ones, he's virtually unbeatable."

2. "Everyone here knows he will be a sensation," one Madrid source said. "When he has the ball, he is reminiscent of Lionel Messi."

3. Dinamo Zagreb manager Ante Cacic:

"Surely this is a great talent, a pearl of our football schools that we have long recognized."

The Future: 

Halilović has, in recent times, been linked with a move to some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Real Madrid and Manchester United reportedly leading the chase. While comparisons with Luka Modrić will always attract attention, it is also true that Dinamo are a club heavily monitored by European scouts, having produced the likes of Real Madrid star Modrić, Hamburg’s Milan Badelj and former Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjčar amongst others in the past decade.

The youngster, for now at least, is playing down a move abroad, with Dinamo offering first-team football and Champions League opportunities in the coming months. Halilović told reporters: ”Stories about Real Madrid and Manchester United? I don’t give much thought about those kind of stories. Dinamo will decide what will happen to me, all I have to do is just try to develop as much as I can. Everything else doesn’t matter right now.”

The key now will be for the club’s latest academy graduate to find his footing at senior level. Playing in a Dinamo side that are a level above most opponents in their domestic league, there will be plenty of opportunities for appearances in the season to come, whilst there remains the possibility of Halilović making his first Champions League appearance in this 2012-13 campaign. The next couple of seasons will be crucial to the youngster’s development and, given their track-record, Dinamo would appear to be the best place for him to learn his trade – for now at least. On an international level, meanwhile, the youngster will no doubt hope to represent his country at next summer’s Under-19 European Championship, should they qualify later this month. There are a lot of potential pitfalls along the road ahead, but there is no doubt Halilović Jr. is one to watch in the years to come.

Watch him in action here:


Source: TheElastico, TribalFootball, Edited by Football365News