Dominik Livakovic was ‘superior in every way’ to Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez during the Qatar World Cup amid reports linking the Croatia international with a move to Leeds United, per Tuttomercatoweb.
Now, that is some claim.
Especially when Martinez has a World Cup winners’ medal hanging around his neck, and the Golden Glove sitting pretty on his Midlands-based mantelpiece. Aston Villa’s £20 million number one made arguably the save of the tournament too, denying Randal Kolo Muani at the end of extra time before keeping his nerve during the resulting penalty shoot-out in Sunday’s most dramatic of deciders.
But according to Vincenzo Cavaliere, an agent who represents Croatia stars Andrej Kramaric and Marko Livaja, there was no one better in his position than the 27-year-old Dinamo Zagreb shot-stopper.
Leeds United like Croatia’s World Cup star Dominik Livakovic
“I expected such a World Cup from (RB Leipzig colossus Josko) Gvardiol, but (Celtic’s Josip) Juranovic and Livakovic surprised me,” Cavaliere admits.
“Especially the latter. He had an amazing World Cup. Perhaps he deserved the golden glove because, comparing him to Martinez, he has much better statistics.
“The indicators are point to Livakovic. He made 25 saves to Martinez’s seven. He saved more penalties, he was superior in every way.”
Livakovic kept out no fewer than four spot-kicks in Qatar, including one from Rodrygo Goes during the shock quarter-final victory over pre-tournament favourites Brazil.
According to Made In Foot, Leeds United have now identified the late-blooming Livakovic as a potential replacement for the much-admired Illan Meslier at Elland Road. Leeds are in touch with his agent too. Dinamo Zagreb are set to demand around £9 million. They turned down a £5 million bid from Nottingham Forest over the summer.
“I think he is one of those players who is now storming onto the world scene. Everybody knows about him. Everybody knows who he is,” legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel tells BeIN Sports.
“In the penalty shootout (against Brazil), he was the hero. He has been very, very good. And I would be very, very surprised if he stays in Zagreb now. He is one of those goalkeepers who a lot of clubs will be now looking at.
“It won’t him long to get to a bigger club, that’s for sure.”
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