Leeds United are set to sign Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic in a deal that will make him the most expensive defender in the club’s history, and his former coach believes he has the potential to be remembered among the best of his generation.
Slobodan Starcevic, who coached Muharemovic with Bosnia-Herzegovina’s U21 side, told Sky Sports that the 23-year-old is a completely different profile from legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, to whom he was compared during his time at Juventus.
Tarik builds his game through composure in possession, an excellent first pass, the ability to carry the ball under pressure, and tactical intelligence, whereas Chiellini was the embodiment of uncompromising defending, aggression, and defensive leadership.
World Cup drama and Serie A rise
Muharemovic first caught global attention when Folarin Balogun fouled him in the box during the 2026 World Cup, sparking a dramatic penalty call. But his performances in Serie A with Sassuolo, whom he helped win promotion and then secure a comfortable mid-table finish, proved he is ready for a bigger stage.
Starcevic highlighted Muharemovic’s physical and technical gifts: “He is nearly 190 centimetres tall and a left-footed centre-back—it is a profile that is highly sought after. He displays composure in building attacks, security in possession, accurate long diagonal passes, and strong defensive duels.”
From broken leg to captaincy
Muharemovic’s path has not been straightforward. After leaving Austrian side Wolfsberger for Juventus’ academy, he suffered a fractured leg. Starcevic praised his resilience: “He returned even stronger. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, and eventually became captain of our U21 side. That says everything about his character.”
What Leeds are getting
The Bosnia international has been scouted extensively, and his World Cup showings against Canada, Switzerland and the United States underlined his comfort in high-pressure environments. Starcevic pointed to “his aerial ability, courage in bringing the ball out from defence, capacity to defend large spaces behind a high defensive line, one-on-one defending, and composure under pressure” as elite traits.
Adapting to the Premier League will demand further growth, but those who know Muharemovic best are convinced he can become a defining centre-back of his era.
