Scouting Report: Ljubo Puljic
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Ljubo Puljic is a Croatian defender born on 31/05/2007 (17) in Vinkovci. He is 194cm tall and weighs 90kg. He grew up playing football for Bayern’s youth teams, then was acquired by Atalanta U23. He mainly plays as a center-left defender in a 4 or 3-man defense. 

From a physical standpoint, Ljubo Puljic has a well-structured physique, with a height well above average and a high center of gravity. He already has a strong build and defined musculature. Ljubo Puljic has good body control despite his height, but lacks agility or balance. The player isn’t very fast. 

Ljubo Puljic is a center back, and his preferred foot is his left. He uses it with confidence. The player has very good technique and ball control, and demonstrates technical cleanliness. He also shows excellent game vision and passing skills; he excels especially at long passes. Additionally, He has very good heading ability and is already strong in aerial duels, making him valuable both defensively and offensively. Moreover, he demonstrates strong game awareness. 

During the possession phase, Ljubo Puljic is a possession-oriented defender and functions as a deep-lying playmaker. He prefers playing on the left side, trying low vertical passes into central midfielders or hitting sweeping diagonal long balls to release stretching wingers. He often eludes the first pressure line thanks to his technique and ball control. 

During the non-possession phase, Ljubo Puljic is an aggressive defender. He relies heavily on anticipating his opponent. He is strong in 1vs1 duels thanks to his build: He uses his upper-body frame aggressively, especially in shoulder-to-shoulder duels. Moreover, the player is highly effective at aerial duels. He has good timing and coordination; the Croatian center-back shows great technical cleanliness both in sliding and standing tackles. Ljubo Puljic also has excellent positioning, which allows him to intercept many passes and shots. On the other hand, he isn’t very good at defending in wide-open areas because of his pace, especially during transitions. 

From a mental perspective, Ljubo Puljic demonstrates a strong personality, great attitude, and flexibility. He is always calm and composed. Despite his young age, he is not afraid to take risks. Moreover, he directs the defense in various game situations and loudly recalls teammates. Thanks to his leadership, he regularly captained Croatia's youth national teams. The player always seems focused and has a strong understanding of the game. On the other hand, he is sometimes overaggressive and breaks the defensive line too early, exposing the team to potentially dangerous situations. 

As for the player's overall rating, Ljubo Puljic proved to be an excellent prospect with room for improvement: He stands out above all for his defensive qualities, playmaking skills, and leadership. The Croatian defender, however, has yet to improve, especially in defending wide-open areas and in learning to manage his defensive aggressiveness. He has the potential to become a very good and modern central defender. A player with a similar profile in today's game is definitely Buongiorno.




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