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Croatia international's dramatic fall from starter to benchwarmer triggers January transfer evaluation
Croatian midfielder Milos Ivanovic will watch the 2026 World Cup from his sofa after a catastrophic loss of form at Benfica left him without a squad place for his national team. The 26-year-old has started just three matches this season.
Sources close to the player confirm he's actively evaluating his future ahead of the January transfer window. What looked like a dream move to Portuguese football has become a career-threatening nightmare in less than 12 months.
When Benfica paid €18 million for Ivanovic in January 2024, they believed they'd secured Croatia's next midfield general. The former Dinamo Zagreb captain had just led his side to the Champions League knockout stages with seven goals and five assists from central midfield.
Ivanovic's statistics paint a picture of rapid decline:
Manager Bruno Lage has preferred the midfield trio of Florentino Luis, João Neves and Fredrik Aursnes, leaving Ivanovic as fourth choice. Even 20-year-old academy product Tiago Gouveia has leapfrogged him in the pecking order.
Benfica insiders suggest Ivanovic has struggled to adapt to Portuguese football's tempo. His preferred deep-lying playmaker role doesn't exist in Lage's 4-3-3 system, which demands more defensive discipline and pressing intensity than he displayed at Dinamo.
He looks lost on the pitch. The confidence that made him special in Zagreb has completely evaporated.
A source within the Benfica dressing room revealed the midfielder has become increasingly isolated, with language barriers compounding his on-field struggles.
Zlatko Dalić delivered the ultimate verdict on Ivanovic's form by omitting him from Croatia's preliminary 35-man World Cup squad. The decision ends a run of 18 consecutive call-ups dating back to March 2023.
Croatia's central midfield options for the World Cup showcase why Ivanovic's loss of form proved so costly:
Even fringe options like Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg) and Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad) have overtaken Ivanovic through consistent club performances.
At 26, Ivanovic is entering his theoretical prime years. Missing this World Cup likely means waiting until 2030 for another chance, when he'll be 31 and competing with a new generation of Croatian talent.
Zlatko made it clear - if you're not playing regularly at club level, you can't expect to represent Croatia at a World Cup. No exceptions.
Croatian FA technical director Stipe Pletikosa confirmed the policy applies to everyone except perhaps Modrić, whose legacy grants him special dispensation.
The January transfer window represents a critical juncture. Ivanovic must decide whether to fight for his Benfica place or seek regular football elsewhere while his market value remains salvageable.
Benfica's €18 million investment complicates any potential exit. The club would likely demand at least €12-14 million to avoid a significant loss, limiting his options to clubs with genuine spending power.
Potential destinations being monitored include:
Benfica face their own dilemma. Selling now means accepting a significant loss on a player signed just 12 months ago. But keeping an unhappy, underperforming asset helps nobody.
Club president Rui Costa must balance financial prudence with squad harmony. Sources suggest Benfica would accept a loan with obligation to buy, spreading the financial hit across multiple windows.
Ivanovic has until 31 January to salvage his career trajectory. Without regular football, his international career will remain on ice and his market value will continue its downward spiral.
The smart money suggests a loan move to a Champions League-level club where he can rebuild confidence and form. Staying at Benfica risks turning a temporary crisis into permanent mediocrity. For a player who should be entering his peak years, the clock is ticking louder than ever.
Ivanovic was omitted due to his poor form at Benfica, where he has started only 3 matches this season and scored zero goals. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić ended his 18-match call-up streak.
Benfica paid €18 million for Ivanovic in January 2024 when they signed him from Dinamo Zagreb. The transfer has not worked out as expected.
At Dinamo Zagreb in 2023/24, Ivanovic had 42 appearances with 12 goals and 8 assists. At Benfica in 2024/25, he has only 11 appearances with 0 goals and 1 assist.
Off The PitchPortugal's Big Three have placed seven players in CIES Football Observatory's prestigious top 100 under-23 talents list, with Benfica's Andreas Schjelderup among the standouts. The ranking validates Portugal's status as Europe's premier talent factory and signals which young stars could explode in value.
The Rumour MillVangelis Pavlidis has admitted he could leave Benfica after just one season, with his €20m move unravelling due to a crucial miss against Porto and tactical incompatibility with January arrival Rafa Silva. The Greek striker's psychological fragility and partnership struggles expose deeper flaws in Benfica's squad planning ahead of their Champions League return.
Sources confirm Ivanovic is actively evaluating his future ahead of the January transfer window. His lack of playing time and World Cup omission suggest a likely departure.
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