Josko Gvardiol’s Journey from Doubt to Determination
October 23, 2025 — Manchester, England: Manchester City’s £77 million defender Josko Gvardiol has revealed that he once considered quitting football altogether during his youth career at Dinamo Zagreb. Speaking to BBC Sport’s Betty Glover, the 23-year-old Croatian international opened up about his emotional struggles and how close he came to walking away from the sport he now dominates.
“I was thinking about quitting because I like basketball as well,” Gvardiol admitted. “At 16, I wasn’t getting game time for Zagreb’s youth team, and I wasn’t sure about football anymore. When you go to training and don’t feel happy, it’s difficult. I just wanted to find something that made me feel better — and all my friends were playing basketball.”
From Self-Doubt to European Stardom
Despite his doubts, Gvardiol persevered and eventually broke into Dinamo Zagreb’s first team. He went on to win back-to-back league titles and capped his time in Croatia with a domestic league and cup double.
In 2021, he made a high-profile move to RB Leipzig for £16 million, setting a new record fee for a Croatian teenager. Over two seasons in Germany, he earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising defenders, making 87 appearances and playing a crucial role in Leipzig’s rise in the Bundesliga.
Record Move to Manchester City
Gvardiol’s performances earned him a blockbuster transfer to Manchester City in August 2023 for £77 million, making him the second-most expensive defender in football history — only behind Harry Maguire, who joined Manchester United for £80 million in 2019.
Since joining Pep Guardiola’s side, Gvardiol has impressed with his composure, tactical awareness, and physical strength — attributes that make him one of City’s most versatile defenders.
“My dream was always to become a professional football player,” he said. “But if you asked me five years ago whether I’d be at Manchester City by 2023 or 2025, I would have said, ‘No chance, impossible.’”
The Power of Perseverance
Gvardiol’s story highlights the emotional pressures young athletes face in competitive academies and the importance of resilience in pursuing a professional career. What once felt impossible has now become reality for a player who has featured prominently for Croatia’s national team and one of the Premier League’s top clubs.
His rise from near-retirement to Champions League football serves as an inspiring reminder that setbacks can often be the foundation for success.
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