You might recall him being fouled by Folarin Balogun, sparking a World Cup drama. Now, Tarik Muharemovic is to become the most expensive defender in Leeds United’s history. One day, some believe he will be remembered among the best of his generation.
It is five years since Slobodan Starcevic was asked whether this could be Juventus' successor to Giorgio Chiellini. "My answer was that he should not be viewed as 'the new Chiellini' because he is a completely different type of centre-back," Starcevic tells Sky Sports.
"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."
Starcevic has strong views on what makes Muharemovic such a special talent - and the areas of his game that will need to improve if he is to succeed in the Premier League. He knows the player well having been his coach with Bosnia-Herzegovina's U21 team.
He still remembers the first time that he saw Muharemovic play. It was in an U19 game against Croatia. This tall defender stood out from the rest. "Even then, he displayed qualities that set him apart from most players of his age," Starcevic recalls.
"Composure in building attacks, security in possession, accurate long diagonal passes, tactical discipline, and strong defensive duels. When you add the fact that he is nearly 190 centimetres tall and a left-footed centre-back- it is a profile that is highly sought after."
He soon spoke to the U19 coach Ivica Barbaric to arrange for Muharemovic to move up through the age groups. There was a game with Qatar's U23s for him to play in. "He was facing opponents almost five years older than himself," Starcevic explains.
"He played only around 30 minutes but he repeated everything that had impressed me. He remained calm, tactically disciplined and confident in possession. Age is never a limitation when a player possesses quality, character and football intelligence."
It was not long after this that Muharemovic left Austrian club Wolfsberger and made the "brave decision to continue his development in one of Europe's finest academies" but the move to Juventus was not without its setbacks. He fractured his leg there.
"But 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 and the way that he responded to one of the most difficult moments of his career."
Naturally, Starcevic has followed his career ever since, seeing him blossom at Sassuolo. "It was the ideal move. At a club with less pressure and greater opportunities, he could continue to develop in one of the world's most tactically demanding leagues."
Muharemovic won promotion in his first season with Sassuolo and proved himself capable in Serie A as the club exceeded expectations with a mid-table finish. But it was his exploits for his country that will also have helped to convince Leeds of his credentials.
"Especially in the play-off matches against Wales and Italy, he formed an exceptionally solid central defensive partnership with Nikola Katic in front of goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Those performances proved that he could compete at the highest international level.
"This year's World Cup represented another important step in his development. In highly demanding matches against Canada, Switzerland and the United States, he demonstrated the qualities that Europe's top clubs look for in a modern centre-back."
What qualities exactly? "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 perhaps most importantly, his composure under pressure, all stand out."
Starcevic thinks this calmness on the ball is "one of the qualities today's elite coaches value most in defenders" and explains his rise. "For all these reasons, it is no surprise. I believed in his potential then and I remain consistent in my opinion today," he adds.
But even from an admirer, there are caveats. "Leeds will be an enormous challenge at this stage of his career. Not because Leeds is a bigger club than Juventus but because the Premier League is probably the most intense competition in world football," he says.
"The speed of the game, the physical demands and the number of situations a centre-back has to solve within fractions of a second are significantly greater than in most other European leagues." And that could require an adjustment in Muharemovic's game.
"At times, Tarik plays on the edge of excessive self-confidence," says Sarcevic. Those strengths can become weaknesses. "He wants to win every ball, every duel, and step in front of the striker even when the situation does not necessarily require it," he adds.
"In Serie A, those situations can often be corrected through organisation of the defensive line and better collective protection of space. In the Premier League, one poorly judged step forward or delayed reaction can soon lead to a clear scoring opportunity."
With only one season of football in a major European league behind him, it will be a test for the young defender. Leeds travel to face eight of last season's Premier League top 10 before the turn of the year. Erling Haaland and the rest can be extremely unforgiving foes.
"I would genuinely be delighted if he proves me wrong. Tarik certainly has the potential to succeed at the highest level. However, he will need to control his impulsiveness, make calmer and more mature decisions, and play with even greater tactical discipline.
"He does not need to win every duel. The world's best centre-backs are not those who constantly engage in challenges, but those who know exactly when to attack the opponent and when to control space, remain patient, and make the right decision.
"The Premier League does not forgive mistakes and demands the highest level of concentration and intensity throughout the full 90 minutes. That is why I believe his ultimate level will depend on his ability to combine aggression with tactical maturity.
"If he adapts quickly to those demands then I remain convinced that Tarik has all the attributes that are required to become one of the finest left-footed centre-backs of his generation and to build a highly successful career for himself in English football."