:
Mirza Ćatović (18, 6/8) is without a doubt one of the main candidates to be a new call-up in 2026, and as far as I know it’s currently more a matter of paperwork than willingness, so let’s hope it gets sorted.
I think he will become a serious topic. He now has his German/EU papers he needed
I’ve spoken about Ćatović multiple times over the past 2/3 years, but now that he’s reached first-team level, it’s time for an update.
Ćatović is a 6/8 with clear physical and defensive strengths - tall, big frame and broad shoulders. For his age, he’s already a physical monster, and even against senior players since his debut he’s been one of the most physically dominant midfielders in 3. Liga, where he has already accumulated thousands of minutes as a regular key player.
It’s more than just physical, because he also defends and anticipates intelligently between both boxes. There are still moments of lazy defending and occasional lapses in concentration though. Overall, he’s already a strong dueller and in possession he can also use his frame very well, both when shielding the ball and when receiving/turning, also under pressure. He’s also more than decent in the air.
On the ball there are still some areas to work on in terms of technical consistency and decision-making, but you also occasionally see something promising that shows there is still serious room for growth. He has solid passing, it’s about improving his decision-making and rhythm on the ball. He’s also very dependent on his left foot.
I believe we’re talking about a future Bundesliga/T5 league level midfielder. For the German national team, he’d need a lot of development on the ball and he’s not very fluid to be a regular in such a team, but either way I expect him to join us soon.
As for us, there are several reasons why he’s key. To start with, his profile is an upgrade on Šunjić, that’s only a matter of time. But Šunjić should at least still be useful for one more cycle until Ćatović is integrated. Secondly, his profile and defensive midfielders in general are rare in the
market. That can always change quickly, but it’s unlikely that someone will emerge in the next few years. Thirdly, we simply need more quality in midfield. Even some of the younger ones there seem to be going downhill for now, and I’ve also cooled down a bit on Bašić in recent months because his limitations are becoming more obvious.Next season he’ll definitely be playing at a high level, and according to rumours Hoffenheim have now overtaken Salzburg in interest. I think Stuttgart could get around €5M for him, and it’s probably best that he moves for his development at this stage. If his paperwork were okay, he’d probably be called up immediately, but I fear that will take some time.
