Pat Nevin predicts even greater things to come for Chelsea target Josko Gvardiol.
Speaking on the BBC World Cup Daily, Nevin noted how brilliant the RB Leipzig player already is, not to mention how brilliant he could become in the future.
Gvardiol has gained a great following due to his performances on the grandest footballing stage in the last month or so.
The 20-year-old has started all of Croatia’s four fixtures so far, and is set to face his toughest test against Brazil this afternoon.
Josko Gvardiol vital to Croatia’s progression
Although Tite’s team might be favourites for the tournament, and rightly so with the talent on display, Croatia will retrieve some confidence due to their impressive centre-back.
Only two players have managed to score past Gvardiol so far in Qatar, but Brazil arguably offer a larger attacking threat than any of the previous opponents combined.
Richarlison, Neymar, Raphinha and Vinicius Jnr have samba strode their way through defences at the World Cup, scoring five times between them.
Yet, none of the flair forwards have faced a defender quite like Croatia’s young enforcer, who is only getting better with age.
“Centre-backs are like good wines. They improve with age, more possibly than the vast majority of players,” said Nevin on Gvardiol.
“If you are a centre-back, if you make a mistake you’re done, you’re stuffed, like a goalkeeper. You play brilliantly for the whole match, if you make one mistake, nobody will remember another thing you do.
“That takes years and years of learning, practice and understanding. You think of vast majority of centre-backs that you’ve thought of great, you don’t really remember their first few years.
“There’s the odd exception. But when you get a young one that comes and you think: ‘you’ve just got it already!’ It’s actually quite astonishing to see and you wonder how good he (Gvardiol) can continue to be.
“He is very, very special and he’s going to be.”
Josko Gvardiol just keeps going
At still such a fledgling stage of his career, Gvardiol will have to play beyond his young years if he is to beat Brazil later today.
Hold Neymar and co. at bay, and his footballing life will accelerate enormously.
Not only that, but the attention from his European suitors will surely speed up in unison.
Chelsea are apparently one of the jostling pack attempting to sign him from Leipzig.
Todd Boehly is seemingly not alone, with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona also said to be in the hunt.
Better get your engine revving, Todd, because Gvardiol could be snapped up at the first whistle.
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