Josko Gvardiol reveals Lionel Messi is his 'idol' as Man City star explains how Pep Guardiola turned defender into shock goal threat

The Croatian international has admitted that he grew up idolising Argentine legend Messi, and got to play against him in the 2022 World Cup, while also explaining the various defensive and attacking roles he performs for Pep Guardiola's City. The 22-year-old says he is happy to get forward and try his luck after scoring two goals in his last three Premier League games.

He toldSky Sports: "My idol was Messi. When you are a defender for 10-15 years you get sick of it!"

He added: "To be fair I didn't expect that from me. All I wanted before I joined City was to be a solid defender next to Ruben [Dias], John [Stones], Manu [Akanji] and [Nathan] Ake, no matter who you play with, and then the manager decided to turn me into a number 10, a left winger!

"When I was younger, I used to play everywhere on the pitch, even a striker, winger, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder. I feel comfortable no matter where I play, and I find myself many times in this left pocket because the manager wants me to be there.

"What do you think that I don't want to take the ball and dribble, drive and shoot? Score a great goal? Of course, but our job is to defend the goal firstly, and then to make a build-up. If the manager wants you to go a bit higher then you can do it as I do, but I need to know that… when we finish the action I need to run back, because my responsibility is for the opposite right-winger so I need to take care of him as well."

Gvardiol has proven to be a good and versatile acquisition since swapping RB Leipzig for City in the summer of 2023. Initially, the former Dinamo Zagreb star struggled to live up to his hefty £77 million ($97m) price tag but now he has become an important player for the English champions.

Gvardiol's City side - who sit second in the table - host lowly Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, before rounding off October against Tottenham in a last 16 Carabao Cup tie. Gvardiol will hope to add to his goalscoring tally in these fixtures.