Not long before former Socceroo great Johnny Warren passed away, he watched a bunch of juniors strut their stuff before signing a few autographs. As one the kids turned his back so Warren could sign his number 10 Sydney United jersey, he told then eight-year-old Adrian Vranic: "You'll play for Australia one day".

Warren got it half right.

The strapping 1.94cm tall Vranic, now 18 and rated by some as "the next Mark Viduka", is on the verge of cracking international football, not for Australia, but for Croatia.

If he commits to the birthplace of his grandparents, Vranic will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Josip Simunic, Ante Seric and Joey Didulica, who were all born in Australia and played their junior football here before playing for the senior Croatian national team.

Mind you, that is no certainty as Vranic is torn between his love for Australia and his respect for Croatia, a country which is giving him the chance to live his dream of becoming a professional footballer so that he may one day emulate the feats of his heroes, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Viduka.

Vranic's situation could have been different had some A-League clubs had proper talent identification systems. Instead, he was turned away and told he wasn't good enough, even in the knowledge his now Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb had put the wheels in motion to lure him.

But, at this important stage of his career, the skilful striker is not dwelling on the what-could-have-beens.

"I still believe it's a bit early to say," Vranic said when asked if he was disappointed his talent wasn't recognised in Australia. "I've always dreamt of playing for Australia and, at a junior level, it doesn't matter what country you play for you're still not locked in. "My first aim is to do well here. You've had Simunic and (former Socceroo) Viduka both come to Dinamo. If I can achieve half of what they've done here I'd be happy. But, as for now, I have respect that these guys (in Croatia) have given me a chance that I will grab with both hands.

"I'm just a boy from Mt Annan, southwest Sydney, trying to show the world that I'm good enough."

Those officials in higher places in Croatia have been quick to recognise Vranic's talents since he arrived at Dinamo three months ago. After a couple of stunning goalscoring performances in the club's youth side, he was fast tracked into the Croatian under 20s, despite the fact he does not even turn 19 until December.

"That's an opportunity I thought I'd never get," he said. "I am honoured but also it couldn't of happened without many of my teammates. But I still know I have to keep on improving and keep on working hard here."

Vranic, who played his junior football at Sydney United between the ages of five and 10 and had a stint of senior football at Parramatta Eagles, says he is enjoying the surrounds at Dinamo, a club steeped in tradition.

"It's a great club. They are treating me very well.I'm loving it so far. My teammates are fantastic.

"(Luka) Modric and (Zvonimir) Boban are just two of many world-class players to come out of here, so you can understand why it has such a great reputation," he said."

As for the comparisons with Viduka, Vranic said he is "embarrassed and touched", but said he tries to style his game on Sweden international and Paris-Saint Germain striker Ibrahimovic.

"If in my footballing days I can be half the man and footballer Viduka was then I'd be very happy," he says.

"He's played at some terrific clubs all over the world. Mark was also one of my favourite players when I was younger. His technique was phenomenal and he is one of our greatest players ever.

"As for how I play, I'm a bit shorter then him, but I try and mould my game around Ibrahimovic and I've even got the (same) hairdo going. Throughout my career people know that I will put the ball into the net, but I need to work on other aspects of my game, like the off-ball situations.

"I also believe as a footballer you grow as a person. You face multiple hurdles every day, no matter how much you train. You don't know what's going to happen next. I have a lot to learn."

However, as much as he idolises Warren, Viduka and Ibrahimovic, one man stands as Vranic's biggest influence -- his father, Tony.

"Definitely my father has been a massive influence," Vranic said. "I can't remember him not driving me to maybe more than one session throughout my life.

"Dad taught me how football was played in the old NSL days and I grew up playing a European, technical striker type of game.

"Also without the belief from my mother and two sisters I wouldn't be the person I am today.

"Of course, I can never forget Johnny Warren. It meant so much to me that day he signed my jersey and said those nice things about me."

Whether Vranic is lost to Australia remains to be seen, but given the impressive way in which he expressed himself and the fact he has got to where he is without the aid of the elite tax-funded development programs, few would begrudge him succeeding at club and international level.