Jose Gvardiol became the most expensive defender in the world after joining Manchester City for 90 million pounds.
Josko Gvardiol makes his Manchester City debut. Photo: MC
Career
Josko Gvardiol played for the local team Tresnjevka before moving to Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 8. He progressed rapidly through the youth levels and made a big step forward when switching from midfielder to centre-back.
After impressing in the UEFA Youth League, Gvardiol made his debut for the Dinamo Zagreb first team in 2019. A left-footed centre-back, Gvardiol is always comfortable on the ball and possesses powerful tackles.
Career in Leipzig
In September 2020, although Leeds United expressed interest, Gvardiol still moved to RB Leipzig for a fee of 16 million euros. It was the right decision for the 21-year-old player, as the Bundesliga is a good environment for young players.
Josko Gvardiol’s career progressed dramatically at Leipzig. Photo: AFP
Moving to Leipzig is a big step for the Croatian player. The speed, tactical complexity, and quality in the Bundesliga are all higher than the tournament in Croatia. It was a test of Gvardiol’s potential to compete at the highest level, despite being just 19 years old.
Finally, Gvardiol gradually got acquainted with and affirmed his value in Germany. Gvardiol quickly found a place in the heart of Leipzig’s defense.
A memorable World Cup
For those who regularly follow the Bundesliga, Gvardiol has become a familiar name. But it won’t be until the 2022 World Cup that this defender will show himself on the world stage.
As the Croatian team has passed its peak, few people think they will go deep in Qatar. In the end, Croatia only conceded three goals on the way to the semi-finals.
Josko Gvardiol experienced a memorable 2022 World Cup. Photo: AFP
Although he had a forgettable match when he had to accompany Lionel Messi in the semi-finals, overall, the 21-year-old still had a memorable tournament. That was also a breakthrough that forced Manchester City to “break the bank” to spend 90 million euros.
Limit
Of course, at just 21 years old, Gvardiol has not yet perfected his skill set. Similar to Virgil van Dijk, it is difficult to point out a clear weakness, as Grvadiol is also very agile.
With a height of 1m85 and a protective body, Gvardiol is also very strong in aerial combat. The proof is the goal against Manchester City in the Champions League last season.
Is Gvardiol suitable for Man City?
Gvardiol seems to have the qualities to fit into Pep Guardiola’s system. He finished the 2022-2023 Bundesliga campaign in 5th place for passes per match (71.3) and had the 9th highest pass success rate (89.3%).
Josko Gvardiol in the match against Manchester City in the Champions League last season. Photo: AFP
The Croatian midfielder will help Manchester City quickly switch from defense to attack, with a 59.7% success rate for long balls last season. He also ranked 12th out of 112 Bundesliga players last season to have made 100 or more passes.
Besides his obvious defensive qualities, Gvardiol is also very versatile and capable of playing as a left-back like Nathan Ake.
Forged under the hands of Pep Guardiola with quality surrounding satellites, Gvardiol promises to develop even more. With Manchester City, Pep’s system of four central defenders will become more diverse and solid next season.