Mauro Perković
Country: Croatia
Date of birth: 23/03/2003 (19 years old)
Place of birth: Pula (Croatia)
Height: 185cm
Youth career: NK Pula ICI, NK Istra 1961 (since 2012)
Current club: NK Istra 1961
Squad number: 39
Current national team: Croatia U-19
Position: central defender, left-back
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 1.500.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification elite round (3/0)
Contract until: 28.02.2024
Player’s agent: LSA
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Lucas Hernández
Strengths:
– pace 
– tackling
– positioning
– anticipation
– aerial duels
– agility
– tenacity
– marking 
To improve:
– I would like to see a little bit more bravery on the ball and more progressive/line-breaking passes from him/at the moment he stands out more with his defensive skills rather than ‘creative’ ball-playing ability
– able to provide some really good long passes but his general long passing accuracy is still very much improvable
– even if he’s very agile, he can be caught on his weaker side from time to time
– operating with his right weaker foot
Style of play:
– complete and dominant centre-back
– player with very good body mass ratio, not the tallest, but has a stocky body build and feels comfortably in contact situations
– can also play as a left-back if needed
– able to play as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man defence system
– suitable to play in a high-line
– prefers an active style of defending by getting into challenges and pressing opponents
– likes to play it simple in the build-up and doesn’t like to take unnecessary risk on the ball
– strong left foot helps in the balance of the team when paired up with a right-footer
– very good pace, agility, and coordination
– consistent, aggressive, and hard-tackling defender
– fearless and good at timing tackles, both sliding and standing
– strong in the air thanks to his jumping technique and athleticism
– concentrated and reactive player with good reading of the game positioning, and anticipation
– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems
– charismatic and mature for his age/potential leader in the future
Perković stops the attacker and then makes a very good sliding tackle to stop his teammate.
Perković anticipates very well and stops a dangerous counter with an aggressive tackle.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central defender in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 23 August 2022):
1. HNL 2020/2021: 6 games/0 goals (Istra)
1. HNL 2021/2022: 25 games/3 goals (Istra)
1. HNL 2022/2023 (ongoing): 4 games/0 goals (Istra)
Description:
Mauro Perković is a product of the NK Istra 1961 youth academy. He is a part of the new wave of highly talented young Croatian centre-backs which includes the likes of Joško Gvardiol, Josip Šutalo, Mario Vušković, Nikola Soldo, Boško Šutalo, Hrvoje Smolčić, Krešimir Krizmanić, Luka Bradarić, and Maro Katinić. Mauro made his professional debut for istra on 27 January 2021 in a league fixture against HNK Rijeka. Despite his young age, he’s a first-team regular and a very important member of Gonzalo García’s team.
Quotes:
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Football Talent Scout potential rating:
First team material in a top European club.
Links: