Liverpool target Josko Gvardiol snubbed a move to Leeds United in 2020 – and his reasoning has now been explained.
Sportske Novosti in Croatia reported back in September 2020 that Leeds and RB Leipzig were fighting for Gvardiol.
Leipzig won the race and brought Gvardiol to Germany, but only after loaning him back to Dinamo Zagreb for a year.
That transfer proved to be a masterstroke for Leipzig, who will stand to rake in huge profit should Gvardiol leave this summer.
Rudy Galetti claims that there are more and more noises that Liverpool will push to sign Gvardiol for a staggering £80million this summer.
Leeds will obviously wish they had signed Gvardiol; not just because of his quality but also because of the huge fee they would be able to command.
A big Premier League move would certainly feel like a kick in the teeth for Leeds, who saw Gvardiol shine for Croatia at the World Cup.
Josko Gvardiol’s Leeds United snub explained
Leeds at least have some explanation now.
Gvardiol’s former Dinamo coach Damir Krznar has now told Sky Sports that the defender was split on whether to go to Leipzig or Leeds.
In the end, Gvardiol told Krznar that he wanted to take a ‘mid-step’ between Dinamo and a move to England.
Gvardiol felt that Leipzig was the best move for that plan and Krznar believes he will now head to the Premier League a more complete player.
“He also had an offer from England and at this time it was a divide,” said Krznar. “What is better? To go to England or Leipzig? When I spoke with him, he said ‘I chose Leipzig just because I think it’s that mid-step I need to make to go to England, to go to the best league in the world’. I think this is a very clever decision for him because he thought or he knew – probably knew – that he can take the place in this team and this is a place where he can grow, where he can develop more, and come to the Premier League like a completely finished, great player,” he added.
Gvardiol could have still made a bigger move after Leeds, but seemingly only wanted to go to England once he was truly ready.
Now with nearly two seasons of experience at Leipzig under his belt, Gvardiol is ready to join a club at a higher level than Leeds – potentially Liverpool.
That won’t be much comfort for Leeds but Liverpool may well benefit from Gvardiol’s outstanding development over in Germany.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
