Josko Gvardiol goes public with ski instructor girlfriend

Last Updated on 14 January 2026

Life has slowed down for Josko Gvardiol, but not entirely in the way he might have planned. A brutal injury has forced the Manchester City defender out of Pep Guardiola’s plans for now, pulling him away from the weekly chaos of Premier League football.

Away from the pitch, however, something else has stepped into focus for the Croatian. And after months of keeping things low-key, that part of his life is no longer private.

Images have emerged of Josko Gvardiol with his girlfriend of at least “some months”. Here’s all you need to know about her and her surprising career choice.

Josko Gvardiol’s latest love interest helping in time off due to injury

While football has temporarily taken a back seat in Gvardiol’s life, love has taken a step forward.

The 23-year-old City defender is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a fractured tibia in the draw with Chelsea. That injury has required surgery and Gvardiol faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The Croatian international has now gone public with his relationship, ending months of speculation after being spotted kissing a mystery blonde at a Christmas Eve party.

Croatian outlet Teleskop later revealed her identity as Lu Mastrovic. The couple have been quietly dating for several months before stepping into the spotlight.

Their first public appearance came at the 10-year anniversary celebration of Lunilou. It’s a fashion brand founded by Mateo Kovacic’s wife Izabel and her sister Ivana, where Gvardiol and Mastrovic posed confidently together, smiling alongside familiar faces from the City circle.

Who is Lu Mastrovic and why does she share the spotlight with Gvardiol?

Like Gvardiol, Mastrovic hails from Zagreb, but her world looks very different from the Premier League grind.

The 20-year-old is currently studying at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, having enrolled two years ago. She balances her academic life with an impressive sporting background of her own.

A former taekwondo practitioner, Mastrovic has since shifted her focus to skiing, even training with a Croatian champion and producing strong results.

When her university schedule allows, she also works as a skiing instructor, splitting her time between the mountains and her studies.

But there’s one reason Gvardiol already knows he doesn’t command all of her attention. Mastrovic is a devoted dog owner, proudly doting on her black bichon frise, Chico, a small but immovable presence in her life.