"He did a tackle right in front of the South Stand and the whole place erupted. I was thinking, 'you're going to go down well with this club'."
Former Leeds United boss Simon Grayson is reflecting on the moment new signing Tarik Muharemovic endeared himself to fans on his debut in a friendly against RB Leipzig at Elland Road in July.
The 23-year-old defender had just become Leeds' most expensive defender following a £34.1m move from Italian side Sassuolo, replacing the long-serving Pascal Struijk, who joined Brighton for £20m.
At the time, some supporters questioned the fee for a player with only one season under his belt in Europe's top leagues.
"He's the right profile but the price is a bit steep," wrote one after the signing of the 6ft 4in left-footed centre-back.
Another added: "Seems like another sensible addition although the fee is eye-watering."
Three months into a five-year contract and talk has quickly turned to how long Leeds can keep Muharemovic, such has been his impact since arriving from an impressive World Cup with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
"Muharemovic has done that well that there will already be clubs looking at him, trying to nick him over the next few months," former Leeds United striker Lucy Ward told BBC Sport.
Jonny Buchan, presenter of the BBC's Don't Go To Bed Just Yet Leeds United podcast, added: "There could be a fear he is a one-year wonder with Leeds in that he does that well in the Premier League, raises his profile that much, that clubs will come for him."
There is already reported interest from Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Muharemovic, who has earned praise for his no-nonsense approach to defending as well as his aerial presence at both ends of the pitch.
Grayson, who managed Leeds from 2008 to 2012, said he has proved a "rock-like" presence and a prolonged spell at Elland Road will benefit the player in the long run.
"I'm not daft enough to think he doesn't have aspirations to one day play for some of the biggest clubs in the world," Grayson told BBC Sport.
"But right now? Sometimes a player is at home with a certain club and I get that feeling with Muharemovic. I get the impression he loves Leeds, he loves the city and he loves the supporters."
The supporters have fallen for him too - and not just because of his passionate performances on the pitch.
After Leeds hammered Newcastle 4-1 in September, Muharemovic shouted into the TV cameras "United are back, United are back".
Dubbed 'The Bosnian Brick Wall' by fans, he has helped Leeds boast the second meanest defence in the Premier League behind defending champions Arsenal.
Muharemovic may not be the finished article, but will his name be in the conversation when the time comes to discuss the Premier League signing of the season?
Muharemovic was born in Slovenia, brought up in Austria, announced himself in Italy and is now showcasing his talent in Yorkshire, having unwittingly found himself in the eye of a World Cup storm.
During Bosnia-Herzegovina's 2-0 defeat to co-hosts the United States in the last 32 on 2 July, he was fouled by Folarin Balogun, which resulted in the American forward receiving a red card after a video review by the referee.
That would normally have ruled Balogun out of the subsequent game against Belgium. However, United States President Donald Trump contacted Fifa president Gianni Infantino requesting the decision be reviewed.
A disciplinary committee then decided to suspend Balogun's ban and he played in the last-16 game, with Belgium the 4-1 victors.
"After this tackle, the media was exploding," Muharemovic told the Athletic about one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history.
"I was everywhere. Every media site. I just thank God that I came out of it without an injury."
Muharemovic's parents left Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian War, which took place between 1992 and 1995, to live in Slovenia and later moved the family to Austria.
It was there where he spent most of his childhood, but his family roots remained closely connected to Bosnian identity and language.
His professional debut came at the age of 18 for Wolfsberger in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2021.
After just six senior appearances he was snapped up by Italian giants Juventus, with Muharemovic going on to feature 57 times for their Next Gen side in Serie C, where Dean Huijsen, now at Real Madrid, was a team-mate.
Although he did not play a senior game for Juventus, he trained with the first team and learned from veteran Italy defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, who formed one of the most iconic defensive partnerships for over a decade, winning eight Serie A titles together for the 'Old Lady'.
"It's hard to become a first-team player at Juventus," said Muharemovic about his time in Turin.
"But when you train with them [Bonucci and Chiellini], they're the first ones who come to you, they're the first to tell you how to defend."
While at Juventus, Muharemovic made his senior Bosnia-Herzegovina debut at the age of 21 in a 3-0 friendly defeat by England at St James' Park shortly before Euro 2024.
After Juventus came Sassuolo, first on loan in 2024 and then permanently, with Muharemovic helping the team to a fine 11th place on their return to Serie A.
His talents extend beyond the pitch.
Muharemovic speaks Bosnian, German, English, Italian and Slovenian, while he frequently mentions his parents when he talks about his progress and the support he has received.
This season his father, Rasim, has been spotted standing with Leeds fans at home and away games.
"My dad loves it," said Muharemovic. "He comes to every game, every away game.
"In Italy he also went to all the home games and some of the away games, but I think this year he said he can't miss any of the Premier League games."
Leeds head to Bournemouth on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with one of the best defensive records in the Premier League after conceding six goals and registering three clean sheets in their opening eight games.
Their new number five has made more headed clearances in the top-flight this season than anyone else, and three goal contributions (one goal, two assists) in 10 league and cup appearances.
Muharemovic is aerially dominant in both boxes, while there is a finesse to his technical skills, too, as shown by a backheeled assist to Dominic Calvert-Lewin for a goal against Newcastle.
He has not missed a minute in the Premier League so far, with Leeds picking up 11 points - two wins, five draws, and one defeat.
"There were a lot of eyebrows raised when Leeds sold Struijk," former Leeds and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson told BBC Sport.
"The biggest compliment you can pay Muharemovic is that nobody is talking about Struijk leaving.
"Muharemovic is an example of the manager being allowed to sign players that fit into his system. He plays in a back three on the left-hand side and is left-footed.
"He has been an outstanding signing."
Winning an aerial challenge on his Premier League debut away at Nottingham Forest on 22 August [Getty Images]
Grayson, who led third-tier Leeds to a famous FA Cup win at fierce rivals Manchester United in 2010, added: "From the very first minute against Leipzig he looked so comfortable on the ball.
"I saw enough in the first 20 minutes of that game to think he is going to be an exceptional talent - and since then he has gone from strength to strength.
"He has a cultured left foot and hits short passes, long-range passes. Playing in a back three really suits him. He also gets what it means to be a Leeds player and what the supporters want.
"Time will tell how he develops. He comes across in his interviews as someone who is living the dream. He is loving life here and being a Leeds player."
