Real Madrid 'sign Inter Milan star Mateo Kovacic in shock £21m+ move'
Real Madrid have signed Inter Milan midfielder Mateo Kovacic in a surprise deal with in excess of €30 million (£21.3m), according to a report in Italy.
The respected Gazzetta dello Sport carries the breaking story on its website, with Kovacic said to be “a Real Madrid midfielder” after a deal was reached.
The Croatia international, 21, has not been linked with Real Madrid this summer so the news, if true, comes completely out of the blue. Indeed, Kovacic had been linked with a possible move to Liverpool, but Rafa Benitez appears to have beaten his former employers to the punch.
Kovacic appeared against Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup in Guangzhou earlier this summer. The midfielder, who can perform in a number of positions including attacking midfield, wide on the left or as a deep-lying playmaker, joined Inter from Dinamo Zagreb in 2013 and has made 97 appearances for Inter, scoring eight goals.
EXPERT VIEW - Davide Bighiani, Eurosport Italy
" Shocked? Yes, we are! We heard rumours about a Liverpool making an offer (25m euros) this morning but we thought it was the usual Sunday morning rumours from the UK newspapers. Nobody was expecting a Real deal from Spain though. In Italy everybody is waiting for the real leap in quality from Mateo Kovacic, who is considered as one of the most talented young players here. Roberto Mancini found it difficult to find a position for him (he even played as a winger in the last pre-season derby v AC Milan) but the best role for him should be as a playmaker. We really don't why Real Madrid made this bid for him, as they have plenty of quality guys playing in the midfield. Benitez saw him playing last year, so it's a matter of investing in a real talent for the future; or at least they hope it is."
EXPERT VIEW - Ivan Castello, Eurosport Spain
" Real Madrid need another man in their midfield, but in Spain we don´t know anything about Kovacic, because Inter are not a top team. Madrid have instead been linked with William Carvalho from Sporting, Lazio's Lucas Biglia and Sevilla's Grzegorz Krychowiak."
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM Real Madrid midfielder and Croatia team-mate Luka Modric, speaking in December:
" People in Real ask me about Mateo Kovacic all the time. He is a phenomenal talent and will play in some of the biggest clubs. Inter is a big club, no doubt, but Kovacic will play in even bigger."
Croatia legend and former Milan midfielder Zvonimir Boban, speaking in January 2013:
" The player has talents that could make him even better than me. He is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age. Kovacic is a complete player. He is not a born regista but he is playing there now. He is a complete talent that can still grow - he has incredible potential. I believe he is perfect for the 3-5-2, he can play as a second striker or advanced playmaker and sees the field like a playmaker."