Josko Gvardiol says Manchester City teammate is ‘like my father’ – Player ‘takes him everywhere’ | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol has credited one of his Etihad Stadium teammates as being ‘like my father’ during his settling in period at the club over the last 12 months.

The 22-year-old defender joined the club in a deal understood to be worth in the region of £77 million with no add-ons, with the player taking some time to acclimatise to the playing style and demands of Pep Guardiola’s set-up.

Having been utilised mostly in the left-back role for Manchester City last season, Gvardiol came into his own during the final three months of the season in particular, offering goals and assists as well as exemplary presence in attacking areas for the club.

That output in front of goal included crucial strikes against the likes of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu, as well as Premier League goals against both Luton Town and Fulham.

But his rise at the Etihad Stadium has not been solely down to his own personal efforts, with the player making clear the impact of one Manchester City teammate in particular during a new interview.

Speaking to Manchester City’s official club website, Josko Gvardiol has credited Croatian international teammate Mateo Kovacic as being integral to settling in at the Etihad Stadium following his big-money move from RB Leipzig last summer.

“I always like to compare the time I signed for Leipzig and last season with you guys. In Leipzig, I was alone, I didn’t have anyone to speak with especially in Croatian and I don’t speak German so it was difficult for me,” Gvardiol admitted.

“I had Mateo (Kovacic) with me and I would say he’s like my father, he’s always there for me and he takes me everywhere,” he continued. “Everywhere they go, he just says comes with us because I live alone, I’m single and my parents live in Croatia but they come often.

“But a lot of the time I’m alone here and he’s the one who always like to call me, to invite me for lunch or dinner or whatever. It’s a different story to the one I had in Leipzig.”

Gvardiol and Kovacic were the first regular Manchester City first-team players to return to the club following their post-European Championship holidays, offering their services during the club’s pre-season activities in the United States.

Featuring in three matches against AC Milan, FC Barcelona, and Chelsea, the Croatian duo are ahead of the rest of their returning Euro stars going into the new Premier League season, while Pep Guardiola remains without four representatives.

Rodrigo, John Stones, Kyle Walker, and Phil Foden were granted an extended break away from first-team activities, with manager Pep Guardiola instructing the quartet to return to duties when they feel ready, within reason.