American Rokas Pukštas plays final match for Hajduk Split before 5 million euro move to Middlesbrough

American midfielder Rokas Pukštas, 22, is set to play his final game for Croatian club Hajduk Split on Thursday against Polish side Raków Częstochowa. Regardless of the match's outcome, Pukštas will transfer to English second-division club Middlesbrough for a reported 5 million euros, a solid deal given he entered his final year of contract.

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This is perhaps the qualifying match for Hajduk's coach Garcia; because if he is eliminated by weak Poles, his most important task this season would remain unfulfilled as early as August.

Pukštas, born in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to Lithuanian immigrant parents who were elite athletes, cultivated a strong work ethic. His father was an Olympic marathon runner, and his mother a triple jump champion. This upbringing instilled in him a mentality of earning everything he achieves. His football journey took him from local fields in Oklahoma to the Sporting Kansas City academy, a trial at Manchester United, and Barcelona's academy in Arizona before arriving in Split at just 16 years old.

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Regardless of the outcome of this match, Pukštas is moving to English second-division club Middlesbrough in a transfer worth five million euros.

Upon joining Hajduk, Pukštas quickly learned that talent alone was insufficient. He embraced a relentless approach and unwavering dedication to the club's jersey, values that shaped his career and made him a fan favorite. His commitment was vividly illustrated when he was late for a training session under coach Gennaro Gattuso. Caught in traffic, Pukštas abandoned his car and ran towards the training ground. He borrowed a bicycle from an agent, but fell, breaking the bike and sustaining injuries. Undeterred, he continued running and arranged for someone to pick him up, arriving only ten minutes late, bloodied and exhausted.

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A solid transfer, considering that Pukštas entered the last season of his contract with Hajduk.

Gattuso, known for his strictness, was impressed by Pukštas's actions, though he was not entirely convinced by his footballing talent. Nevertheless, Pukštas was a coach's dream at Hajduk, a versatile midfielder capable of playing defensive, central, or attacking roles, and even on the wing. His boundless energy and dominance in duels were remarkable, with one match against Varaždin seeing him win 17 duels. His playing style combines aggressive pressing with an exceptional ability to find open space, making him effective at breaking up opposition attacks.

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The club and the league the American is moving to are solid, although it cannot be escaped that Hajduk's most expensive player is moving to - the second league. Even if it is the English one.