Tottenham and Manchester United may not be enjoying the best of starts to the season – or the best few years – but that doesn’t mean their star is shinning any less bright.
Just ask Croatian striker Igor Matanović. He’s been linked to both Tottenham and Manchester United in recent months. And he’s happy to admit that is added motivation for him.
The 23-year-old is with Croatia for this international break, looking to convince Slaven Bilic to make him his starting striker under his reign.
He’s already a regular for his nation after making his debut in 2024 under Zlatko Dalic. He has two goals in 12 caps so far.
Impressive numbers
Now he’s seriously pushing to be the starting man after starting the season in fine form at Freiburg.
With six goals and two assists in seven games in all competitions – including three goals and one assist in four games in the Bundesliga – he’s a striker who deserves attention.
Reports have already linked him with a potential move to the Premier League. He’s aware of those rumours. And he says mention of Tottenham and Manchester United is just motivation for him.
“I’m not thinking about that. I’m focused on the pitch because I know everything else depends on how you train and play,” he told Večernji list.
“When there is talk of interest from such clubs, it shows you are on the right track. It can serve as extra motivation to keep going in the same direction.
“But my focus is on Freiburg – on continuing to play good football and winning as many matches as possible.”
| Statistic | 2025/26 | 2026/27 so far |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 50 | 7 |
| Minutes played | 2,639 | 493 |
| Goals | 15 | 6 |
| Assists | 4 | 3 |
| Goals + assists | 19 | 9 |
| Minutes per goal | 176 | 82 |
| Goal contributions per 90 | 0.65 | 1.64 |
Premier League appreciation
The newspaper then tried to push him to answer if the Premier League would suit him. But he refused to get involved in any conversations, despite showing a clear appreciation for England’s top flight.
“I know that’s an interesting topic for you, but I wouldn’t want to speculate right now on which league would suit me best,” he added.
“We all know the Premier League is among the best in the world, distinguished by its high tempo and dynamic nature. I believe any footballer can enjoy the atmosphere and the passion the fans have for the game there, just as is the case in Germany.
“I think that if you are a genuine, complete player, you can succeed in any league. As for which one suits someone best, you can probably only tell once you’ve actually played there.”
