AdminAfter their recent successes with young stars like Gavi, Pedri, Alejandro Balde and Ronald Araujo, Barcelona unsurprisingly see young players to be the right investment of resources.
The market for prodigies might be inflated, yet promises great dividends if the player proves to be successful.
According to reports from Di Marzio, the Catalans are eyeing NK Osijek’s central defender Ljubo Puljic. The 15-year-old would presumably arrive to join the B team set up and train in the subsidiary team until he develops the complete skill set to succeed in Barcelona.
The youngster is a regular starter for the Croatia under-17 set-up in addition to playing for Nk Osijek’s U-17 side. At the tender age of 15, he is seen as one of Croatia’s most promising upcoming defenders and represents the next generation after the likes of Josko Gvardiol.
Puljic’s playing style is often compared to that of Nemanja Vidic for his no-nonsense defending. He is labeled as a ‘traditional centre-half’ with good speed, physique, and awareness of the game.
At the same time, he is far from being perfectly rounded. Puljic is still not as comfortable on the ball as one would expect a Barcelona player to be, and he needs to work on his passing, especially under pressure.
Juventus are also interested in the youngster.
The Catalans boast of some of the best defenders in the world at the moment, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Kounde in their ranks. Moreover, Xavi’s men boast of one of Europe’s best defensive records with just nine goals conceded in 26 La Liga games.
Needless to say, Puljic is one the board see as an asset for the long term. His acquisition could either result in a move that will be talked of for years to come as a steal or one that disappears under the radar as another failed youth pursuit. Only time will tell if the Croat has what it takes to succeed in Catalonia.
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