Rokas Pukstas at Hajduk Split (Croatia)

Published yesterday by Parma Live:

At a press conference Hajduk Split coach Gennaro Gattuso spoke about the transfer market and Rokas Pukstas, who has been continually linked to Parma in recent weeks: "Pukstas is here with us and is training hard until he gets sold. I spoke to the president two weeks ago and he told me there is no money. I respected that."

Hajduk was hoping to get at least ten million euros for Pukstas, but Parma's offer has never exceeded five million plus bonuses. And now there are just a few hours left until the transfer market closes.​

https://www.parmalive.com/mercato/g...e-ceduto-abbiamo-difficolta-economiche-225527

 

If there is someone whom Pukstas should try to emulate that is Gattuso, btw. No reasons to hurry out.

 

I'd think more Frank Lampard than Gattuso. GG famously quipped when asked why he didn't dribble more was because he had square feet. Was very much a defend first midfielder

 

That was a joke, having Pirlo next to him he didn't need to dribble that much. But Pukstas isn't a great dribbler either, I suspect he will end up somewhere between 6 and 8 on a better team. Something like Mike Bradley that hopefully can play defense.

 

He was famous for hurting people.

 

BTW, if you've never been, Croatia is a really beautiful country, at least at the Adriatic coast (only part I've been).

 

FWIW the Keita deal did go through, for 12m euros or 13m dollars. Whatever the respective merits of the players, it's clear that Parma did have the money Parma were looking for but didn't see Pukstas as being value for money at that price.

Kind of like "you say he's a Passat but he's not, he's a Golf, so we're buying an Audi instead"

 

Yes, but also...

 

That's how Pirlo was able to survive on the field. I wish we had an enforcer on the MNT.

 

Hakduk Sporting Director Nikola Kalainić was canned yesterday. Other than being a former player, he had no qualifications and no business in being selected a few months ago.

Today, he fired away with numerous accusations. One of them was that the offer for Pukštas was actually for 7 Euros and not 5 (as widely reported) and that Hajduk wasn't going to settle for less than 10.

Nikola Kalinić on Pukštas:

"He had an offer from Parma for €7m, which I secured through my connections, but they asked for 10m."

"I'd love for the players to be worth that much, but they aren’t. We’re not in Europe, and he underperformed in the second half of last season." 🚨 pic.twitter.com/prQUh7rLMp

— 🇭🇷 (@TheCroatianLad) September 11, 2024

 

That’s a good offer.

I don’t really see 10M valuation being a reality. Apparently no clubs agree.

 

It never was.

As I mentioned a while back, there was a 15 million offer for Dinamo Zagreb attacking midfielder Martin Baturina, who started his first match for the Croatian National Team on Sunday in the Nations League vs Poland, just to put it in perspective.

Kalinić was an awful sports director, but he was correct in saying Pukštas had a ho-hum second half. He was one of the reasons they were in first place for the first half of the season and one of the reasons they finished in 3rd place.

 

There was this too. Seems like "management" was lacking.

Andy Bara about Pukstas transfer :

"It was supposed to be signed. I started to work on it, and as new Board came, they sad - "It will be tomorrow, the day after etc..." and it never happened. I never received that paper. I had a deal with the ex-Board that they let me do Rokas… pic.twitter.com/DtanA7kO6z

— Statzone (@statzone23) September 12, 2024

 

If this half of the season sees him at his top form, then they should get €6-7m again this winter. Maybe even €8m including add-ons. Otherwise, I could easily see them setting for €5m.

Like @MetroFever said, Zagreb were only offered €15m for Baturina, who has 4 Croatian titles, has played 85 league and 31 UEFA games, including 5 CL and 2 EL group stage games.

No way Pukstas, who has only 70 league games, zero UEFA games and 1 Cup title with no caps to his name goes for €10m

 

Rokas subbed off in the 67th minute after what looks to be a surprisingly uninvolved performance at the #10. However, the good guys hang onto their lead, winning the Eternal Derby (great name), and going top of the table despite all of the negativity surrounding the start of the season.

 

I'm shocked they won. Seems like the subs were also for more defensive minded players to protect the lead.

Pukštas had a great chance in the 46th minute to pounce on a rebound off the keeper, but the shot appeared to be partially blocked and went past the near crossbar. It's at 3:15 of the highlight video:

 

Went off after a yellow card

 

Pukštas did not play in yesterday's domestic league match due to yellow card accumulation (I believe he had 3). Hajduk defeated Gorica 4-1.