Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has revealed that there was a time when he almost gave up on football entirely. The Croatian international, who joined City from RB Leipzig in August 2023 for around £77 million, opened up about his early struggles and doubts in a recent interview with BBC Sport.
Gvardiol shared that during his youth career at Dinamo Zagreb, he lost his love for the game and thought seriously about switching to basketball instead. He explained that going to training didn’t make him happy anymore and that most of his friends were basketball players, which made him question whether football was really the right path for him.
“I was thinking about quitting because I like basketball as well,” he said. “I wasn’t sure about football anymore because when you get to the training ground, you don’t feel happy. I was just trying to find something that made me feel better, and all of my friends were playing basketball.”
The 23-year-old also admitted that even though he always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer, he never imagined he would one day be playing for Manchester City. “If you asked me five years ago whether I could see myself at Manchester City, I would have said no chance, it felt impossible,” he added.
Gvardiol also spoke about playing through a tough knee injury last season. “In my head, I just wanted to compete and help the team no matter how I felt,” he said. “It took about six months, but now everything feels good again.”
Since joining City, Gvardiol has become a key figure under Pep Guardiola. In just over two seasons, he has made 104 appearances, scored 11 goals, and provided seven assists — impressive numbers for a defender.
Pep Guardiola has been full of praise for him, calling Gvardiol “incredible.” The City boss said the Croatian’s work ethic and willingness to learn make him one of the most coachable players in the squad. “He’s so young, physically outstanding, and can play in two positions perfectly. He listens, wants to improve, and that’s what will make him an even better player,” Guardiola said.
Gvardiol recently helped Manchester City to a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League. With confidence and form on his side again, he’s now preparing to return to Premier League action when City face Aston Villa at Villa Park on October 26.
