Earlier in June, Mateo Kovacic publicly expressed his desire to leave Real Madrid due to lack of playing time at the Spanish capital club.
After Croatia’s campaign at the 2018 World Cup, the midfielder went to Valdebebas and held talks with Julen Lopetegui before going on holiday, according to AS.
He has informed the former Spain coach about his firm stance of wanting to leave the club after not playing a single minute in their last three Champions League finals. AS believe Manchester City’s failure to land Jorginho, who joined Chelsea from Napoli, has forced them to shift their focus to the ex-Inter Milan man.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been joined by AS Roma and Bayern Munich for Kovacic and the Premier League champions have asked his employer about the situation, but the report claims the 13-time European champions have made it clear their player is not for sale.
It is now down to the Spanish outfit to try and convince the midfielder to change his opinion, and the player will once again have a word with Lopetegui once he returns to the club.
If the midfielder is not going to be a starter next season, then he wants to leave. And that’s the point when any Manchester City interest may have a better chance of turning into something.
