Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake react to Josko Gvardiol away from Man City
Josko Gvardiol has generated reactions from Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake with a new message away from Man City.
The 23-year-old defender has jetted out of the country ahead of Croatia’s World Cup qualification matches against Gibraltar and Czechia, hoping to secure an automatic spot at the 2026 tournament.
He has plenty of experience to help lead his national team to victory over the next week, benefiting from an extremely difficult campaign with the Citizens in domestic and European competitions.
Having finished third in the Premier League, been knocked out of the Champions League and EFL Cup, and lost the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola has come under tremendous pressure at Man City.
Nonetheless, Gvardiol has created a strong bond with Ruben Dias in the centre of defence, keeping the talented Manuel Akanji on the bench, and moving between positions throughout the season.
Josko Gvardiol on international duty away from Man City
Taking to Instagram (4 June), Gvardiol posted images from Croatia’s training base, captioning the post with the nation’s flag and a lightning bolt, claiming likes from Dias and Nathan Ake.
Pep Guardiola ready to go again in 2025/26
Football Insider verdict
The Citizens’ difficult 2024/25 campaign sparked concerns over Guardiola’s future as the manager at the Etihad Stadium, but it does not seem likely that the Catalan will leave the club high and dry.
Tijjani Reijnders already looks set to join the Man City squad ahead of the Club World Cup, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait Nouri, and Tino Livramento all linked with possible moves.
Football Insider understands that Cherki has emerged as a concrete option for City this summer, with the talented playmaker only likely to cost the club £20million as per his release clause.
Finishing third in the Premier League and losing the FA Cup final is not the worst outcome, especially when looking at Man United and Tottenham’s positions in the league table.
However, over the last decade, supporters have come to expect immaculate performances from the Citizens, and this campaign was far from flawless despite just a 28-per-cent loss rate.
Guardiola will want to avoid a repeat of the season just gone, and with a number of stars still expected to join, the summer transfer window will be an exciting one for the fans.