THREAD: analyzing and profiling Kulusevski. I will go through his beginnings, what type of player I think he is and who does he reminds me of
-RTs, likes and comments are appreciated-
-RTs, likes and comments are appreciated-
In 2016, Kulusevski was playing in the U16 of Sweden as a right CF in a two-strikers formation. After his signing for Atalanta, he started to play in Sweden U17, where he also played as striker and sometimes as right midfielder
First year at Atalanta he played in the U17, where he contributed (Transfermarkt usually makes mistakes accounting G/A) to 17(!) goals in just 22 games. But the particular thing was his position: right CM in a 3-midfield
By the end of that year, he started playing in Atalanta Primavera, the main reserves team of every Italian club. He played 2 years there, where he contributed to a crazy amount of goals: 44 in 53 games. Particularities? played as left CM, wearing the #10
During that time, many teams showed interest in him. Between them, Arsenal. The news reported that they made an offer for the “Atalanta midfielder”
After a year on loan at Parma, he signed for Juventus in 2020 for €35M. Asked for his best position, he said this.
Trequartista
Trequartista
Analyzing him, he has many things of a #10: tends to move btls looking for receiving & turn/link up, dribbles & holds the ball between the channels, has a great range of passing, looks for the final pass, has a great striking technique, likes to carry the ball and command attacks
He’s clearly not a tempo controller/playmaker #10, he’s more of a direct #10: he likes to get into zones of shooting, he’s always looking for doing something decisive in attack, plays final balls, is a treat on transitions, has tactical awareness to play in the centre
Considering all of that and the fact that he is 6’1”, that he doesn’t have an outstanding change of rhythm nor balance, likes to move through all the centre zones of attack… doesn’t he reminds you of someone?
Yes, he reminds me of Kevin De Bruyne, a left-footed one to be more accurate. Kulusevski has said that he learns a lot from the Belgian #10, and that he wants to become like him
Also something that would change the perspective people have on him is his goal impact. He was a goalscorer in reserves football, but he couldn’t translate -yet(?)- that to professional football: he only has 26 goals in 1st division. That amount would be better for a midfielder
In conclusion, I think Kulusevski is a #10, and in the long-term Tottenham should play him in that position. That way they can upgrade the goal impact of the RW and add more explosiveness to its wings
P.S. something that was helpful for developing this idea was that @FTalentScout also named him as “the left-footed version of Kevin De Bruyne” in 2020
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