Josko Gvardiol: Man City defender almost quit football for basketball

Josko Gvardiol’s £77 million move from RB Leipzig to Manchester City in August 2023 made him the second most expensive defender of all time.

However, the 23-year-old Croatian international revealed that he almost gave up on his “dream” career in football while playing for Dinamo Zagreb.

“I was also thinking of quitting because I love basketball,” the centre-back told BBC Sport.

Gvardiol, who was 16 years old and had difficulty finding playing time for Zagreb’s youth team, considered ways away from football.

“I wasn’t sure about football anymore because when you go to the training ground you don’t feel happy anymore, you know?

“I was just trying to find other solutions and feel happier than I felt before because all my friends were playing basketball.”

Gvardiol bided his time and broke into the senior team, winning back-to-back titles with Zagreb, signing a league and cup double before being transferred to the Bundesliga for £16 million; this was a record fee for a Croatian teenager.

Gvardiol, who impressed in his two seasons in Germany, signed a five-year contract with Manchester City in 2023 after making 87 appearances for RB Leipzig.

Harry Maguire became the only defender in world football to transfer for more money, moving from Leicester City to Manchester United for £80 million in 2019.

“My dream was of course to become a professional football player, but I didn’t know I would go this far,” Gvardiol added.

“If you go back five years and ask me, do you see yourself at Manchester City in 2023, ’24, ’25? I would say I have no chance, it’s really impossible.”