When Manchester City go to RB Leipzig for the primary leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, they are going to come up in opposition to one of many world’s highest-rated younger defenders.

Josko Gvardiol – the person within the masks for Croatia on the World Cup – has solely simply turned 21 years previous however is coveted by Europe’s high golf equipment.

Such is his standing, Leipzig inserted a 110m Euro (£98m) buyout clause in his contract, which turns into energetic in 2024. There is an effective likelihood he’ll go for lots greater than that this summer time, with City, Chelsea and Liverpool among the many golf equipment linked with a big-money transfer.

But what makes Gvardiol so particular?

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“He will touch the stars. He will be elite.”

Damir Krznar has been an essential determine in Gvardiol’s meteoric rise – and he’s satisfied the trajectory will proceed.

As academy director at Dinamo Zagreb, he oversaw Gvardiol’s growth. As Dinamo’s head coach he led the membership to a league and cup double, with the teenage Gvardiol a breakout star in his defence.

Krznar watched on proudly because the left-footed centre-back grabbed international consideration along with his team-of-the-tournament worthy shows in Qatar.

Those performances got here as no shock to Krznar, although. He has seen Gvardiol hone his standout mixture of technical talent, bodily presence and an ice-cool mentality and knew his former participant can be at residence on the most important stage. It’s the place he belongs.

“I expected something like this,” mentioned Krznar, now head coach at Maribor. “He played without any mistakes. There was a mistake, maybe, against Lionel Messi for the third goal against Argentina… but this is not a mistake, this is Messi!” Krznar laughs at Gvardiol’s undesirable position in a memorable second of Messi magic.

But whereas Gvardiol was unable to cease the little maestro on that event, it was the defender’s constant strategy to the event which had probably the most putting influence on his former coach. Regardless of the opponent or stage of the competitors, Gvardiol was at all times composed in harmful areas and courageous in possession. They are hallmarks from his earliest years within the Dinamo academy.

“On Croatian television, after the first game, he said ‘maybe I need to take more risks’,” smiles Krznar. “Imagine that! Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic, who play it simple, possessional football. And this young kid wants to take risks over them!

“This is what makes him nice.

“He’s a big guy, a tough guy and in a duel he doesn’t have a problem,” continues Krznar. “He has very good speed, speed of reaction, everything.

“But that is what makes him totally different: he at all times searches first to cross ahead. A ball to make the development to the ‘one line’, to the ‘two line’, to the ‘three line’… and it is a attribute of midfielders.

“This is [the type of] central defenders we will search for in the future. I think Josko is one of those modern central defenders.”

Krznar is once more chuckling as he remembers how Gvardiol and his team-mates within the Dinamo Zagreb academy “pulled our nerves apart” as they boldly performed out from the again in opposition to Chelsea and Bayern Munich within the UEFA youth competitions.

It was a method Krznar and his coaches inspired. “We were aware that this is football we need to play because the whole world is searching for that,” he mentioned.

It was in that forward-thinking surroundings Gvardiol flourished.

His growth gathered tempo along with his breakthrough into the Dinamo first staff, first as a left-back after which at centre-back. By the time he had the silverware success beneath Krznar within the 2020/21 season, a transfer to RB Leipzig had already been agreed for the then-18-year-old, though there had additionally been curiosity from Leeds after their promotion to the Premier League.

“He also had an offer from England and at this time it was a divide,” says Krznar. “What is better? To go to England or Leipzig? When I spoke with him, he said ‘I chose Leipzig just because I think it’s that mid-step I need to make to go to England, to go to the best league in the world’.

“I believe it is a very intelligent choice for him as a result of he thought or he knew – most likely knew – that he can take the place on this staff [Leipzig] and it is a place the place he can develop, the place he can develop extra, and are available to the Premier League like a totally completed, nice participant.”

He could well be approaching that point now.

“His left foot is excellent,” says Sky Germany reporter Philipp Hinze, who covers RB Leipzig. “His cross accuracy, his passing pace is excellent. Risky passes and dribbling by the primary urgent line… Line-break passes are one in every of his finest skills. I’ve by no means seen this at this age at this stage.

“And his ability to win situations defensively is awesome. He’s very athletic and he’s a clear, calm player.

“He will be the world’s finest defender within the subsequent three to 5 years.”

At Leipzig he has been given the right support to develop. He began at left-back under Jesse Marsch but the American’s successor Domenico Tedesco moved him into the middle and put his full faith in Gvardiol.

“They had an excellent relationship,” says Hinze. “Under Tedesco he performed each recreation.

“It was with Tedesco that he had a very tough situation with his form around the Europa League semi-final with Rangers. It was bad performance after bad performance… but Tedesco let him play. ‘Come on let’s get over this stage.’

“I believe that helped him. Then Marco Rose additionally is aware of about his qualities. Rose loves him as effectively. For me he is probably the greatest defenders with a left foot, probably the greatest centre backs.”

Premier League bound: But will Liverpool, Man City or Chelsea win his signature?

Gvardiol is a well-liked determine at Leipzig. There was a standing ovation for him from his team-mates on his return from the World Cup however there may be additionally an consciousness that his journey is simply starting. “The fans love him very much, too” says Hinze. “But they know that Gvardiol will not end his career at Leipzig.”

Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate are two different highly-rated centre-backs who’ve graduated from RB Leipzig, with the latter becoming a member of Liverpool. Anfield might be a future vacation spot for Gvardiol, too.

“He’s said Liverpool is his [ideal] team,” says Hinze. “Liverpool or City. Firstly, they can buy the release clause and secondly the Premier League is so competitive. You can join Real Marid but who’s your opponent? Valladolid or Villarreal? Join the Premier League and play the best teams in the world, that’s the dream and I think he’s ready to do this in this summer. But the question is how high is the offer?”

There was additionally a transfer from Chelsea late in final summer time’s switch window however, as Hinze notes, Leipzig are in a robust place now. They can demand a excessive value within the subsequent switch window with the information a 110m Euro launch clause shall be required in the summertime of 2024.

At the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday evening, the world could have one other alternative to see why Gvardiol’s title is hooked up to such excessive figures.

But for individuals who have watched his rise carefully, the reality of his expertise is already identified.

“He will be one of the leaders of our national team in the future, of course,” says Krznar. “I’m very proud. Not only me but the whole staff at Dinamo Zagreb. It fills us with joy and happiness.”