In recent years, FC Bayern has painfully learned on several occasions how expensive patience lost on campus can be. Angelo Stiller and Kenan Yildiz are the most prominent examples – and now history is threatening to repeat itself
As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports, AC Milan are making concrete efforts to sign Ljubo Puljic. The 18-year-old centre-back is regarded as one of the biggest defensive talents on the Bayern campus and is on the radar of several European clubs. Initial talks are said to have already taken place between the Rossoneri and the player’s side
Puljic joined FC Bayern from Croatia in the summer of 2023 and has since progressed through all the youth ranks. He currently plays for the record champions‘ second team. However, his contract only runs until 2026 – a situation that has already put Munich under pressure on several occasions in the past. Without a timely extension, he could leave on a free transfer, just like Stiller and Yildiz in the past
Particularly explosive: According to information from the player’s entourage, a clearly defined sporting perspective is still lacking. Puljic is said to want to know above all how and when the path from the campus to the professional squad can realistically look like. This is precisely the point at which Bayern has recently struggled with other top talents
Bayern campus faces its next test
The names Stiller and Yildiz are both a reminder and a warning signal at Säbener Straße to this day. Both left FC Bayern because it seemed too unlikely that they would break through to the professional ranks. Today, Stiller is an international and top performer at VfB Stuttgart, while Yildiz is one of the most exciting attacking players in Serie A at Juventus Turin
Puljic could be the next to follow this path. According to Romano, Milan are not the only club interested, with several clubs keeping a close eye on the situation. For FC Bayern, this means there is a need for action, as there is once again the threat of losing a player with enormous sporting and financial potential
Whether the Munich club takes countermeasures this time depends largely on whether they can show Puljic a credible perspective beyond the regional league. Otherwise, the next campus departure could only be a matter of time.
