Celtic’s Croatian star Josip Juranovic looks almost unrecognisable as he poses for pic with Champions League winner
JOSIP JURANOVIC continues to make a name for himself in Glasgow under Ange Postecoglou as Atletico Madrid get set to watch him face Brazil in the World Cup today.
The Croat defender will test himself against Neymar and co in Qatar this afternoon.
And the Spanish giants will be on a scouting mission as they prepare to line up a January swoop for the Celtic defender next month.
But while Juranovic is now being watched by a host of top clubs across Europe, his rise to fame didn't just start when he joined the Hoops last year.
The right-back first jumped on the scene when he won a Nike competition in 2014.
Playing for minnows Dubrava, he beat 44 other kids to make the London final of 'The Chance' - earning a move to Croatian big dogs Hajduk Split.
Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, his current Croatia team-mate, was there to see him shine brightest among Zagreb’s top talents.
Juranovic was handed his trophy by former Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Croatian hero Mario Mandzukic - who he later played with in the national team too.
The pair posed for a pic as the ex-Champions League winner played for the La Liga side at the time.
Juranovic may soon be joining the fellow Croat's former club if he impresses for the national team again today.
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But fans may struggle to recognise the defender as he looks rather baby faced next to the 36-year-old legend in the snap.
Meanwhile, respected Croatian coach Velimir Carapina judged 'The Chance' and chose Juranovic as the winner of the competition in 2014.
Carapina insists Juranovic was the star of the show and is delighted to see his career take off like he expected all those years ago.
He told SunSport: “I didn’t coach Josip at Dubrava, but I knew all about him as a player and I could see his talent when he was a young player.
“I was a member of staff at the Zagreb Football Association and he would play in select games and tournaments at some of our camps.
“I was then asked to be the head coach at ‘The Chance’ and Josip entered the competition.
“The standard was very good. There were 45 players there between the ages of 18 and 22.
“None of them had professional contracts, but they were members of Zagreb clubs and they spent a full day participating in the Nike competition. We tested skills and speed and then played two games.
“Why did Josip win? Because he showed the best results in the tests and was among the best individuals in the matches.
“In the matches, he played central midfield, not the position he plays for Croatia and Celtic.
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“He was extremely good technically and tactically, as well as being durable and quick. He deserved to win and I am happy to see his career progress.”
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