It is not every day Fabrizio Romano reports about a player plying their trade in youth football. Yet that is what he did- with a nice bonus attached from his agent attached, to be sure — and his report about Bayern Munich Ljubo Puljić was captured by @iMiaSanMia:
Milan have opened talks to sign FC Bayern II centre-back Ljubo Puljić.
This rumor is a surprising one. The Croatian center back joined Bayern for an undisclosed fee- though it was rumored to be fairly significant- back in 2023 as a really
big talent. One can see why, too, as he has many of the talents of an old school center back. At 6’4″, Puljić is a formidable center back with the strength, jump and header to boot. He particularly shines while defending his own penalty area, with superb balance, marking and aerial ability marking him as nobody to mess with.
But flaws have emerged as he adjusted to the style played at Bayern. The 18-year-old may shine in the box but he struggles in a high line, given he lacks pace and the right balance of aggression and caution in those advanced positions. Furthermore, his game on the ball is fairly limited. He might be too much of an old school center back for the modern game.
This season, Puljić has made it to Bayern’s U-23s following his status as regular starter for the U-19s last term. However, an injury has ruled him out for the majority of the campaign and he will need to compete with 4 other center backs once the U-23s resume play in the Regionalliga Bayern around mid-February. 5, if all are fit. Additionally, with Cassiano Kiala, Roko Mijatović and Filip Pavlić, Die Rekordmeister arguably have 3 talented center backs more suited to the club’s style of play. For the short and the long term, perhaps a move away from Bayern will suit all sides.
Given the Croatia U-18 center-back’s contract expires in June, a potential move to AC Milan may only happen in the summer on a free. Ideally Bayern get a fee back to offset the fee paid for him, but if they were to lose him it would not be the end of the world.
