Luka Topalović
{{short description|Slovenian footballer (born 2006)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luka Topalović
| image =
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2006|2|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia{{cite web|title=Mladi upi – Luka Topalović (Domžale): Korošec, ki se je kalil pri Mariboru, nato pa pri šestnajstih zamenjal Senijada Ibričića |url=https://planetnogomet.si/intervjuji/mladi-upi-luka-topalovic-domzale/ |website=Planet Nogomet |access-date=20 May 2024 |language=sl-SI |date=8 March 2023}}
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Inter Milan
| clubnumber = 53
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Korotan Prevalje
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2019
| youthclubs2 = Maribor
| youthyears3 = 2019–2020
| youthclubs3 = Bistrica
| youthyears4 = 2020–2023
| youthclubs4 = Domžale
| youthyears5 = 2024–
| youthclubs5 = Inter Milan
| years1 = 2022–2024
| clubs1 = Domžale
| caps1 = 47
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 2024–
| clubs2 = Inter Milan
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2021–2022
| nationalteam1 = Slovenia U16
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam2 = Slovenia U17
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = Slovenia U19
| nationalcaps3 = 19
| nationalgoals3 = 6
| club-update = 20 May 2024
| nationalteam-update = 25 March 2025
}}
Luka Topalović (born 23 February 2006) is a Slovenian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Inter Milan.
In October 2023, The Guardian has listed Topalović among the top 60 best young talents born in 2006 in world football.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2023/oct/11/next-generation-2023-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football|title=Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football|first1=Marcus|last1=Christenson|first2=Steven|last2=Bloor|first3=Garry|last3=Blight|date=11 October 2023|access-date=20 May 2024|website=The Guardian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nogomania.com/article/-17-year-old-prodigy-Luka-Topalovic-earns-spot-in-Guardian-s-prestigious-Next-Gen-list|title=17-year-old prodigy Luka Topalović earns spot in Guardian's prestigious Next Gen list|date=11 October 2023|access-date=20 May 2024|website=Nogomania}}
Club career
=Domžale=
Following his performances for Domžale's under-17 team, Topalović made his professional debut for the club in May 2022, aged 16 years and two months.{{Cite web |last=Nava |first=Matteo |date=12 June 2024 |title=Colpo giovane dell'Inter: a un passo la stellina slovena Topalovic, 18 anni |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Calciomercato/Inter/12-06-2024/inter-su-topalovic-trequartista-del-domzale-chi-e-calciomercato.shtml |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it-IT}} In March 2023, he extended his contract with the club until 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Pripravljena-na-razvoj-in-prestop-v-boljsi-klub-Luka-Topalovic-in-Emir-Saitoski-sta-podpisala|title=Pripravljena na razvoj in prestop v boljši klub: Luka Topalović in Emir Saitoski sta podpisala|trans-title=Ready for development and transfer to a better club: Luka Topalović and Emir Saitoski have signed|date=1 March 2023|access-date=20 May 2024|website=Nogomania|language=sl}} On 28 April 2023, Topalović scored his first senior goal in a 1–1 league draw with Gorica.{{cite web|url=https://e-koroska.si/prevaljcan-luka-topalovic-je-vceraj-prvic-zadel-v-1-snl/|title=Prevaljčan Luka Topalović je včeraj prvič zadel v 1. SNL|trans-title=Yesterday, Luka Topalović from Prevalje scored his first goal in the 1. SNL|date=29 April 2023|access-date=20 May 2024|website=e-koroska.si|language=sl}} In the occasion, he became the youngest goalscorer of the season.{{cite web|url=https://vecer.com/sport/intervju-najmlajsi-strelec-prve-lige-luka-topalovic-mami-nisem-smel-nabijati-premocno-10332470|title=(INTERVJU) Najmlajši strelec prve lige Luka Topalović: Mami nisem smel nabijati premočno|first=Tomaž|last=Ranc|date=10 May 2023|access-date=20 May 2024|website=Večer|language=sl|url-access=subscription}}
During the 2023–24 season, Topalović established himself as a regular starter for Domžale,{{Cite web |date=3 July 2024 |title=Ora è anche ufficiale, Topalovic è un nuovo giocatore dell'Inter. Contratto depositato |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ora-e-anche-ufficiale-topalovic-e-un-nuovo-giocatore-dell-inter-contratto-depositato-1985961 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it}} scoring two goals and four assists in 37 matches in all competitions.{{Cite web |date=8 July 2024 |title=I migliori giocatori del 2006 per il Guardian: l'Inter annuncia Topalovic |url=https://sport.sky.it/calciomercato/2024/07/08/migliori-giovani-calciatori-2006-inter-topalovic |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Sky Sport |language=it}}
=Inter Milan=
On 3 July 2024, Topalović was registered as a new player of Serie A side Inter Milan on the Lega Serie A's transfer portal;{{cite web |date=4 July 2024 |title=Inter dokončno deponiral pogodbo na Lega Calcio: Luka Topalović zdaj čaka le še na uradno fotografiranje v dresu Milančanov |url=https://planetnogomet.si/novice/luka-topalovic-deponirana-pogodba-inter/ |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Planet Nogomet |language=sl-SI}} the deal was publicly announced on 8 July, as the player joined the Italian club on a permanent basis.{{Cite web |date=8 July 2024 |title=Luka Topalović è un nuovo giocatore dell'Inter |url=https://www.inter.it/it/news/luka-topalovic-annuncio-nuovo-giocatore-inter |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Inter Milan |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=8 July 2024 |title='Znova nam je uspel milijonski prestop.' Topalović iz Domžal k Interju. |url=https://www.rtvslo.si/sport/nogomet/znova-nam-je-uspel-milijonski-prestop-topalovic-iz-domzal-k-interju/714231 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=RTV Slovenija |language=sl}} The transfer allegedly commanded a fee in the region of €1–2 million.{{cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Veliki talent Luka Topalović očitno ni mogel reči ne! Po sezoni v prvi ligi zdaj pred prestopom v velik klub, kjer bo težko igral |url=https://www.nogomania.com/Novica/Veliki-talent-Luka-Topalovic-ocitno-ni-mogel-reci-ne-Po-sezoni-v-prvi-ligi-zdaj-pred-prestopom-v-velik-klub-kjer-bo-tezko-igral |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=Nogomania |language=sl}} He was initially assigned to Inter's under-20 squad.
International career
Due to his origins, Topalović is eligible to represent Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally.{{cite web |title=Will Slovenia have to fight for the hot guy from Domžale? BiH claims Luka Topalovic is also a wish of two other national teams |url=https://footballplanet.si/news/will-slovenia-have-to-fight-for-the-hot-guy-from-domzale-bih-claims-luka-topalovic-is-also-a-wish-of-two-other-national-teams/ |website=Planet Nogomet |access-date=20 May 2024 |date=5 September 2023}}
He has represented Slovenia from under-16 to under-19 level.{{WorldFootball.net|luka-topalovic}}
Personal life
Topalović was born in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia to Bosnian Croat parents, originally from Kotor Varoš.{{cite web |title=Jasen poziv selektorju: Spelji ga Sloveniji - veš, kaj moraš narediti, vpokliči ga |url=https://ekipa.svet24.si/clanek/nogomet/slovenci-v-tujini/67484ec309a20/luka-topalovic-inter-bih-slovenija |website=Ekipa|access-date=28 November 2024 |language=sl |date=28 November 2024}}
Career statistics
{{updated|21 May 2024.}}{{Soccerway|luka-topalovi/790426}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Slovenian Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Domžale
|rowspan="3"|Slovenian PrvaLiga |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022–23
|10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2023–24
|35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2{{efn|name=UEC|Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}} | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!47 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 3 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!47 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nzs.si/tekmovanja/?action=igralecStat&id_igralca=95295 Luka Topalović] at NZS {{in lang|sl}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Topalovic, Luka}}
Category:Sportspeople from Slovenj Gradec
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Slovenian men's footballers
Category:21st-century Slovenian sportsmen
Category:Slovenia men's youth international footballers
Category:Slovenian people of Croatian descent
Category:Slovenian people of Bosnia and Herzegovina descent
Category:Slovenian PrvaLiga players
Category:Slovenian expatriate men's footballers