Barcelona wanted to sign Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol

Barcelona had aspirations to sign Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol during the summer, according to Mondo Deportivo. The Spanish club recognized the 24-year-old Croatian defender as a valuable addition to their defensive unit, appreciating his versatility in playing both center-back and left-back positions. Gvardiol's physicality, defensive solidity, and composure when transitioning from defense to attack were also factors that caught Barcelona's attention.

However, Gvardiol had no intention of leaving City, whose management viewed him as an irreplaceable asset. The Croatian solidified his position at City by signing a new contract until 2031 in July. Gvardiol joined Manchester City from RB Leipzig in 2023 for a reported £77.6 million and quickly became an integral part of the first team under Pep Guardiola's management.

His role as a left-back remained unchanged following Enzo Maresca's appointment as head coach. Gvardiol has started all five Premier League matches this season, contributing three goals directly to his team's cause. Despite their interest, Barcelona invested in other defensive reinforcements such as Anthony Gordon, Rodri, Karim Adeyemi, and Gabriel Jesus in the summer.

They also explored a potential deal for Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, but no transfer materialized.