The Untold Story of Borna Barisic: A Backstory the Scottish Media Hesitate to Explore

Any number of background details could surface, even the most mundane and predictable aspects. The phrase “putting a kilt on it” refers to emphasizing the Scottish angle in any significant story.

The Sun has recently managed to obtain quotes from Josip Juranovic’s brother regarding the transfer options facing the Celtic defender. However, there’s a much bigger story brewing deep in Croatia, one that’s well-known in Croatian media but seems too risky for Scottish outlets to touch.

Borna Barisic has been in Scotland since the summer of 2018, and just last week, the Croatian edition of the Daily Star examined the background of the “Ibrox World Cup ace.”

Barisic, a Croatia and Rangers defender, is the son of notorious gangster Stipe “The Moth” Barisic. Despite being part of Croatia’s World Cup squad, Barisic has yet to play in this year’s tournament, remaining on the bench for every game so far. Croatia, who finished second in Group F, made it to the Round of 16, but only after goalless draws with Morocco and Belgium. If manager Zlatko Dalic were to feel pressure to field Barisic in the coming matches, it would be understandable given the circumstances.

Borna Barisic was given a chance to play against Japan, but after a poor performance, he returned to the bench for Croatia’s match against Brazil.

The 30-year-old left-back’s family ties, however, cast a shadow over his career. His father, Stipe Barisic, is believed to be a key figure in the Cepin mafia clan, and as any devoted father would, Stipe takes a keen interest in his son’s career. Unfortunately, this involvement may not always be beneficial for Barisic’s relationships with coaches and boardroom figures.

A notable example is when Dinamo Zagreb president Zdravko Mamic blocked Barisic’s move to the Croatian club in the summer of 2017. Barisic, understandably upset by the sudden cancellation of his transfer, publicly criticized the club. Shortly after, Mamic was shot in the leg during a reported assassination attempt on his life, according to Croatian media.

Despite this colorful family history, the Daily Star, which is part of the Reach Group along with the Daily Record, has yet to inform its readers about Barisic’s controversial background.

Source: https://videocelts.com/2022/12/blogs/latest-news/the-colourful-borna-barisic-backstory-that-the-scottish-media-are-reluctant-to-touch/