At FC Bayern, the next talented young player could be on the verge of leaving. According to reports from Italy and Germany, center back Ljubo Puljic is close to a move to Atalanta Bergamo. For the Munich club, this would mean the loss of yet another promising talent in the defensive line.
FC Bayern’s squad planning this summer isn’t limited to the first team. Numerous personnel decisions are also pending in the youth academy.
While players like Maurice Krattenmacher, Jonathan Asp Jensen, and Noel Aseko are in the spotlight, Ljubo Puljic could now be another talent to leave the club.
As reported by the tz, the Croatian youth international is on the verge of a move to Italy.
Atalanta Bergamo is getting serious
According to the report, Atalanta Bergamo is on the verge of signing the 19-year-old. Notably, Puljic and the 2024 Europa League champions are said to have already agreed on a long-term four-year contract. Currently, it appears that only the final details are being worked out before the transfer can be officially completed.
The signs thus clearly point to a departure. Puljic moved to Munich in the summer of 2023 for around 2.8 million euros and was considered one of the most exciting defensive talents of his age group at the time.
The 6-foot-4 left-footed player initially came up through FC Bayern’s U17 and U19 teams before recently becoming a regular in the second team. In the past Regionalliga season, the center back made 15 appearances for the Bayern amateurs.
Internally, he was recognized as having shown promising development. In particular, his physical presence, strength in one-on-one situations, and his qualities in building play consistently earned him positive reviews.
The move up to the pros never materialized
Despite his potential, however, Puljic has not yet managed to take the decisive step toward the professional squad. Competition for his position at FC Bayern is fierce. With Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah, Min-jae Kim, Hiroki Ito, and other talents, opportunities for young center-backs are currently limited.
This very circumstance may have played a key role in his decision.
For Puljic, Atalanta Bergamo would certainly be a logical career move. The Italian club enjoys an excellent reputation across Europe for developing young players and has brought numerous talents to the top level in recent years.
Young defenders in particular regularly get the opportunity in Bergamo to develop at the highest level.
Bayern still holds the bargaining power
However, the Munich club is not completely powerless. Puljic is under contract with FC Bayern until 2027. Accordingly, the record champions still hold a strong negotiating position and can insist on a reasonable transfer fee.
Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that Bayern will attempt to secure certain rights for the future—such as buyback options or a share of the proceeds from a potential resale.
Such models have been used several times in the past to avoid completely relinquishing control over the development of promising young talents.
Currently, however, there are many indications that Puljic no longer sees his future in Munich, but rather in Italy. For FC Bayern, he would be the next talented young player to leave the club in search of a faster path to the first team.