In a recent report, Corriere dello Sport claimed that Real Madrid are locked in a three-way battle for Red Bull Leipzig ace Josko Gvardiol. It has been mentioned that Los Blancos could face competition in the form of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the race to land the Croatia international.
Gvardiol’s Impressive Form In German Football
Gvardiol is having a decent campaign with Leipzig after producing some impressive performances at the heart of their backline. The Croat sensation has made 19 appearances for his current employers this season, netting one goal on all fronts.
The 20-year-old has been a solid presence on the defensive end of the field based on his average of 0.6 interceptions, 1.5 clearances and 0.6 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from inside his half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 89.1% in league football (stats via whoscored).
Gvardiol is under contract at the Red Bull Arena until the summer of 2027. Hence, Real Madrid will have to launch a big offer if they want to lure the Croatia international to the Spanish capital next year.
Is Gvardiol A Good Choice For Real Madrid Head Coach Carlo Ancelotti?
Gvardiol is a solid tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his side on the defensive third of the pitch. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and is a tidy passer of the ball as well. The Croat talent is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a left-back if told to do so.
Hence, someone with Gvardiol’s skillset and potential would be an exciting addition to Real Madrid‘s squad this January or at the end of this campaign.
We can expect the 15-time Croatia international to add more bite and steel to Los Blancos‘ backline and increase competition for places within Carlo Ancelotti’s match-day squad.
At 20, the future is quite promising for Gvardiol as long as he continues to improve as a footballer with each season. He will be an excellent choice for the Madrid giants to pursue next year as he will enhance the quality of their squad in the long run. Gvardiol has got the ceiling to become a success story at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Therefore, Ancelotti would be wise to try everything in his power to snap him up soon.
