Gvardiol’s Golf upstages City’s supercar parade

Only at Manchester City could a quiet Volkswagen Golf trump a fleet of exotics. Amid the roar of V12s and the whirr of twin-turbos, Josko Gvardiol turned up to training in something your neighbour could park on the drive — and, truth be told, it said plenty about the man anchoring Pep Guardiola’s back line these days.

The Golf that got City talking

Gvardiol has grafted his way into becoming a mainstay for the champions after a bumpy bedding-in period, and his choice of wheels matched the no-fuss defender he’s become. The Croatia international arrived in a Volkswagen Golf, a smart and sensible motor valued around the £40,000–£50,000 mark. In a world where showmanship often drowns out substance, the lad chose practicality over pomp — and fans adored it. Social media was awash with praise, with many hailing him as a “legend” for keeping it real despite a hefty wage packet.

Supercar parade at City’s training ground

Make no mistake, most of the squad still rolled in like a Monaco concours. Ruben Dias was spotted behind the wheel of a Lamborghini Aventador. Rayan Ait-Nouri arrived in a Mercedes-Benz Vito. Erling Haaland — who’s previously been seen in an Audi RS6 — rocked up in a Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato, the rugged Lambo that’ll set you back around a quarter of a million quid.

Elsewhere, there was a procession of G-Wagons — Rico Lewis, Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku and new boys Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford and Tijani Reijnders all showing off £175,000 worth of squared-off swagger. Matheus Nunes? He opted for the Lamborghini Urus, a family-sized rocket nudging north of £200,000.

Haaland’s garage keeps growing

As for Haaland, the Huracán is just one chapter in a glossy garage. The Premier League goal machine recently splashed £400,000 on an ultra-rare Maybach Virgil Abloh — one of only 150 made — nudging his collection towards the £10 million mark. The limited-edition beast packs a twin-turbo 6.0L V12 and sprints from 0–60mph in about 4.5 seconds before topping out at a limited 155mph. Not subtle, but then neither is his finishing.

Why the Golf matters

Footballers and flashy cars go together like cold nights and midweek fixtures, but Gvardiol’s understated choice struck a chord. It echoed N’Golo Kanté’s famous Mini Cooper energy — a reminder that not every star needs a spaceship to make an entrance. For Guardiola, it’ll read like focus and maturity; for the fanbase, it’s relatability in an era of eye-watering wealth.

If you fancy a flutter on where City’s season goes from here, check out the best betting sites — though, as Gvardiol’s shown, it’s not always the flashiest choice that wins.

Pundit’s verdict

Image is easy; influence is harder. Gvardiol is delivering the latter on the pitch and letting the former take care of itself. When your centre-back’s calm enough to roll in driving a Golf while facing Europe’s sharpest forwards, you know he’s got the temperament for the big moments. The supercars will grab the clips — the Golf tells the story.