When Josko Gvardiol speaks about his career years after he completed his £77 million switch from RB Leipzig to Manchester City in August 2023. The Croatian defender became the second-most expensive defender in football history — behind only Harry Maguire’s £80 million transfer to Manchester United.
Yet, in a surprising revelation, the 23-year-old admitted that he once came close to abandoning football altogether to pursue basketball.
Gvardiol’s crisis of confidence as a 16-year-old footballer
Long before the trophies, the Premier League spotlight, and Pep Guardiola’s tactical system, Gvardiol’s footballing future looked uncertain.
As a teenager at Dinamo Zagreb’s academy, he struggled for minutes and questioned whether he still belonged in the sport he once dreamed of conquering.
“I was thinking about quitting because I like basketball as well,” he told BBC Sport, reflecting on that turbulent period in his youth career.
Back then, the highly regarded prospect was only 16 years old but already facing doubts that would make or break his ambitions.
Surrounded by talented peers who were progressing faster, he found himself on the bench more often than on the pitch — a situation that chipped away at his confidence.
“I wasn’t sure in football anymore because when you get to the training ground you don’t feel happy anymore, you know?” he explained.
“I was just trying to find other solutions and to feel happier than I felt before because all of my friends were playing basketball.”
Those thoughts of walking away from the sport were not fleeting. Gvardiol, who grew up in Zagreb, had always admired basketball’s rhythm and teamwork — a game many Croatians hold close to their hearts.
For a time, he considered following his friends onto the court rather than chasing a future on the pitch.
But patience — and a burning competitive spirit — kept him in football. As his development continued, Gvardiol began to rise through Dinamo Zagreb’s ranks, and soon his determination paid off.
He eventually broke into the club’s senior side, helping Dinamo secure consecutive league titles and completing a memorable domestic double before moving abroad.
His £16 million transfer to RB Leipzig in 2021 set a new record for a Croatian teenager, marking the start of a remarkable journey across Europe’s top leagues.
From Bundesliga breakout to Manchester City star
In Germany, Gvardiol’s physicality, tactical intelligence, and left-footed precision quickly made him one of Europe’s most sought-after defenders.
Across two seasons with RB Leipzig, he made 87 appearances, earned widespread praise for his composure under pressure, and lifted the DFB-Pokal (German Cup).
By 2023, his rise had caught the attention of Manchester City, who were fresh from a historic treble-winning season. Pep Guardiola saw in Gvardiol not just a defender but a player capable of initiating attacks from deep — a perfect fit for City’s evolving system.
When the Sky Blues came calling with a £77 million offer, Leipzig had little choice but to let their prized asset go. It was a record-breaking moment for Gvardiol and a validation of the faith he had rekindled years earlier when doubts threatened to derail his path.
- How Man City fans died ahead of Villarreal match has been revealed, Club release statement
- Top Manchester City midfielder planning to join West Ham or Aston Villa – Report
“My dream obviously was to become a professional football player, but I didn’t know that I was going to go that far,” he said, reflecting on how far he’s come.
“If you go five years back and ask me, do you see yourself at Manchester City in 2023, ’24, ’25? I would say no chance, like really impossible.”
His rise from the brink of quitting to starring for one of the world’s biggest clubs mirrors the unpredictable nature of sporting success.
At Manchester City, he has continued to grow, adapting seamlessly to English football and the demanding standards of Guardiola’s system. Known for his ball-carrying ability, passing range, and defensive discipline, Gvardiol has proven that the faith City placed in him was well-founded.
