Who is Manchester City's new £77m signing Josko Gvardiol?

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Josko Gvardiol rose to global prominence as 'the man in the mask' at the 2022 World Cup but had long since been destined for the top. </p>

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The Zagreb-born 21-year-old caught the eye in Qatar, but more for his unruffled dynamism at the heart of Croatia's defence than for the black face mask worn to protect his broken nose. </p>

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Gvardiol, who on Saturday completed a £77.6million to Manchester City, was a stand-out player during Croatia's run to the semi-finals and emerged as arguably the best young player at the tournament and certainly among the world's best left-footed central defenders. </p>

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Argentina's Enzo Fernandez received FIFA's young player award, but Gvardiol was included in a five-man shortlist alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham and Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi. </p>

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Dozens of British media outlets named him in their team of the tournament. </p>

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His career had already been on a steep upward curve after making his debut for Dinamo Zagreb aged 17 in 2019 and less than a year later he joined RB Leipzig for £13.8million. </p>

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Leipzig loaned Gvardiol straight back to Zagreb for the remainder of the 2020-21 season and he played a key role in his hometown club's domestic double-winning campaign. </p>

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The Bundesliga club beat a host of European clubs to the teenager's signature, including Leeds, who had offered a reported £19million under then head coach Marcelo Bielsa. </p>

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Gvardiol later revealed that he had been close to teaming up with Bielsa, who had regularly phoned him personally to convince him of his project at Elland Road. </p>

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But he opted for Leipzig and, in his first season at the Red Bull Arena, Gvardiol won rave reviews, helping them lift the DFB Pokal - their first major trophy - and qualify for the Champions League after finishing runners-up to champions Bayern Munich. </p>

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Leipzig also reached the 2022 Europa League semi-finals - they lost 3-2 on aggregate to Rangers - and, with Gvardiol integral to their success, Europe's big guns moved in. </p>

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Chelsea's reported offer of £77.5m in the summer of 2022 was rejected as Leipzig extended the Croatian's contract until 2027 and he continued to impress. </p>

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He scored his first Champions League goal as Leipzig halted Real Madrid's 16-game unbeaten start last season in a 3-2 win before the World Cup break, heading the German side into an early lead. </p>

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Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic had no doubts Gvardiol was on the path to stardom when handing the then-19-year-old his first senior international start in their opening group defeat to England at Euro 2020. </p>

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Gvardiol started in every game at the Euros as Croatia lost to Spain in the round of 16 and Dalic's admiration grew at the World Cup in Qatar. </p>

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Lionel Messi duped Gvardiol when setting up Julian Alvarez for Argentina's third goal in Croatia's 3-0 semi-final defeat, but that did not detract from the 6ft 1in defender's immense contribution overall. </p>

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After Croatia reached the knockout stages in Qatar, Dalic said: "Gvardiol is the best central defender in the world. He's so mature. The way he plays, with the grace he controls the ball - it's amazing." </p>

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Manchester City will be hoping Gvardiol can live up to such high praise. </p>

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