Published: 16:46, 23 October 2025 | Updated: 16:46, 23 October 2025

He is a cornerstone of Manchester City's defence, but their record defensive signing has revealed he was close to choosing a different sporting career path.

Josko Gvardiol is a regular first-team starter under Pep Guardiola, but the 23-year-old says he almost quit the sport as a teenager to pursue his love of basketball.

The crossroads in his career came when he was just 16 and struggling to get game time in the youth setup at Dinamo Zagreb.

And with basketball his favourite sport - European, not American - coupled with all of his friends playing it, Gvardiol thought long and hard about his future and what would make him 'feel happier'.

Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: 'I was thinking about quitting because I like basketball as well.

'I wasn't sure in football any more because when you get to the training ground you don't feel happy any more, you know?

One of Manchester City's stars has revealed they almost quit football for basketball as a teen

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