JUST occasionally, a young player emerges from nowhere to suddenly become one of the most-highly coveted prospects in Europe.
This season, that honour goes to 19-year-old Dejan Kulusevki.
Man Utd will be furious to have missed out on Dejan KulusevskiCredit: Getty
Juventus moved quickly to beat Man Utd to the signing of Kulusevski this monthCredit: Getty
The Swedish teenager has become that rare star, making an immediate and explosive impact while on loan at Parma in Serie A.
Scouted by both Manchester United and Inter Milan, it was Juventus who made a swift and decisive move to capture the Swedish youngster from parent club Atalanta as soon as the January transfer window opened.
His swift rise to prominence has meant many have not had the opportunity to see just how talented this teenager really is – and what they’ve missed out on.
Kulusevski was born in Sweden to Macedonian parents, and signed for nearby club Brommapojkarna at the age of just six.
After ten years in the youth sector in Bromma, Italian side Atalanta – known for their impressive development of young talent – made the move to bring the player into their own Under-17s team.
The deal made him the first Swedish player born after 2000 to move abroad.
Such tenacity paid off when, in 2018-19, Atalanta won Italy’s Under-19s league for the first time in 21 years.
Kulusevski scored eight goals, adding ten assists, as his side finished 11 points clear of Inter after 30 total matches.
That Kulusevski provided more assists than he scored goals is testament to his versatility.
He’s a strong, hardworking player who is skilful enough to play anywhere across the midfield.
“NEXT DE BRUYNE”
Already in his fledgling career he has played in a No10 role and has even started as a central striker for the Sweden Under-21s side.
Yet he was still largely unknown in Italy, and Atalanta decided that he would benefit from a season on loan at Parma.
That is where club scout Vincenzo Marchetta first laid eyes on the Swedish talent, and he has revealed exclusively to The Sun where the player’s talents lie.
Marchetta said: “He is strong technically, physically and also mentally, he’s left-footed but also skilled with his right. He has game vision and timing.
“When I first saw him I realised that he had all the qualities to make a difference in Serie A.”
Parma wasted no time in handing Kulusevski his first-team debut versus Juventus in August, and the very next week the confident youngster provided two assists in a 3-1 win over Udinese.
Marchetta continued: “In terms of playing style, he’s similar to [Kevin] De Bruyne. He started playing as an attacking midfielder, but now he is playing very well as a right-winger.
“In my opinion he will be able to play at a high level also as a right-sided midfielder in a 4-3-3 system.
“He can improve in terms of continuity of performance. He has all the qualities to become a top player, now it is up to him.”
At Parma, Kulusevski has already become an established Serie A star.
His tally of four goals and seven assists so far this term makes him the youngest player in any of Europe’s top-five leagues to have been involved in ten or more goals.
His contract with Juventus will see him bound to the Turin giants for the next four years and will allow him to remain on loan at Parma until the end of the season.
The fee paid to Atalanta was £30million plus a potential £8m in add-ons – a sum that could well be seen as a mere snip in years to come.
Once again, Juventus have shown their ruthless streak, snapping up the very best talent before others had the chance.
It seems as though Kulusevski is soon to become a household name and will surely leave the likes of Man Utd wondering why they didn’t move for him sooner.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
