Gvardiol details crucial Kovacic influence on Official Man City Podcast | OneFootball

Josko Gvardiol says the advice and presence of Mateo Kovacic helped him settle quickly to life in England.

The Croatian duo both signed for the Club in the summer of 2023 before playing vital roles in our unprecedented Four-In-A-Row success and Club World Cup triumph last term.

Midfielder Kovacic arrived at the Etihad Stadium in June 2023 from Chelsea, two months before his international colleague, Gvardiol.

Since then, the pair have made a combined 158 appearances for the Club and have continually impressed for the Blues with commanding and classy displays.

And Gvardiol believes Kovacic’s guidance allowed him to seamlessly transition into Pep Guardiola’s squad from RB Leipzig.

He said on the latest episode of the Official Man City Podcast which is published for CITY+ subscribers at 18:00 (UK) tonight: “Mateo is a really nice person – he’s getting old by the way!

“He’s a good footballer, obviously and I think this is his seventh year in England and he’s got good experience and I think he’s the reason why I adapted that good [at City] in the beginning.

“I remember everyone was asking me how I was doing and if it was difficult to adapt, so many questions.

“He was the one who helped me a lot to be [settled] from the very beginning and focused to give my best to show who I am, my qualities and to have the opportunity to be in the first XI.”

Later in the episode, Gvardiol details how he followed in Kovacic’s footsteps in leaving Croatia at a young age and eventually reaching the elite stages in football both domestically and internationally.

And Gvardiol believes Kovacic is the perfect successor to current Croatia captain Luka Modric's armband.

He added: “[Kovacic] did similar to me, he moved [from Croatia] at 17 or 18, he was even younger to Inter.

WATCH: Watch: Croatian comforts

“He told me at the beginning of [his time in Italy] he was playing then he was not. He struggled a little bit and when he was at Real Madrid.

“He didn’t have an easy way, either and I’m happy he’s part of our team and with the national team.

“I think he deserves to be [Croatia’s] new captain when Luka Modric retires.

"He’s a good leader and I think he can be a good leader in the next couple of years, especially in our national team.”