Klopp wants to sign Croatia star, has tough test against Brazil

Alongside the survivors of the Russia 2018 World Cup, the historic Modric, Perisic, Kovacic or Lovren, there is a new generation of Croatian players who dream of participating in other feats of their national team, current runner-up of the world. And one of its members, who has already become one of the trendy players of this World Cup, is central defender Josko Gvardiol. Today, Brazil awaits him in the quarterfinals. He is only 20 years old and has only played 16 games for Croatia.

But Romelu Lukaku will not forget how Gvardiol prevented him from scoring in stoppage time on the last day of the group stage, when the 0-0 draw ended in a draw that eliminated Belgium and sent Croatia through to the last 16. At the end, Gvardiol ran to hug his mother and cried. "Gvardiol is my favorite defender," said former England captain and iconic Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on the BBC a few days ago.

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Real Madrid, Chelsea and United themselves are some of the big names that have been rumored to be interested in signing the defender, the perfect modern defender, for whom Leipzig paid Dinamo Zagreb 19 million euros in 2021. The young center-back renewed until 2027 with a €50 million termination clause. Gvardiol, whose assuredness at the back is capable of turning a team around, has become one of the sensations of this World Cup, since the start of which he has gone from 114,000 followers on Instagram to 265,000.

He plays with a protective mask due to a broken nose and was chosen by Zlatko Dalic, Croatia's coach, as a starter ahead of Domagoj Vida. Dalic has no doubts: "At 20, Josko is one of the best if not the best center-back in the world." Gvardiol has brought a new dimension in terms of physicality and youth to Croatia.  Dalic underlines Gvardiol's soccer intelligence and his ability to work. Meanwhile, Spanish international Dani Olmo, Gvardiol's teammate first at Dinamo Zagreb and then at Leipzig, describes him as "brave, he always wants to win and improve."

Klopp wants Gvardiol

At the end of the Champions League match at home to Brugge the defender tried to deflect a glass of beer thrown in the direction of his teammates with his head. Some nicknamed him 'Little Guardiol' because of the resemblance of his surname to Pep Guardiola. The Croatian defender's is pronounced like the Manchester City manager's without the 'a'. Both Vida and Dejan Lovren are protecting him. Lovren, one of the 2018 World Cup runners-up and Zenit defender, winner of a Champions League and a Premiership with Liverpool, says about Gvardiol. "I talk to Josko a lot and try to give him positive advice. He listens and takes it in and he's better than I was in my twenties. He has enormous quality. It's not unusual for all the top clubs to be interested in him. I hope in 15 years he remembers that I gave him advice one day," Lovren said.