Santiago Solari, the Real Madrid manager, is willing to bid farewell to Mateo Kovacic, currently on loan at Chelsea, in the next summer transfer window.
Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic arrived in Spain’s capital back in 2015, but has never been able to cement a first team spot under Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane in spite of putting in stunning shows. Thus, he went to Premier League club Chelsea on loan in order to get more playing time and improve his game.
Kovacic has more or less been a first team player ever since joining the Blues and has only been making way for Ross Barkley on sparring occasions. The Croatia international has also won over the fans as well as his coach and seems to be enjoying life in London as the Blues gun for Premier League victory in spite of losing ground to City and Liverpool in the last few weeks.
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Sources have now reported that Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari sees Mateo Kovacic as surplus to his plans for next season and is ready to offload him in the summer transfer window of 2019. The new manager feels that Dani Ceballos in particular suits his game better than Kovacic and hence, he is willing to let go of the Croat.
There has been no news as to whether Chelsea have an option to buy Kovacic or not, but it’s clear that the Blues may be interested in making the loan move permanent if the former Inter man continues to showcase the Stamford Bridge with brilliant performances. In addition to that, Maurizio Sarri’s preference towards him is enough indication of something that’s negative for Real Madrid.
There will definitely be other clubs in the running for Mateo Kovacic if he is transfer listed, but with all due respect to whatever he is doing at the club, Santiago Solari and the president Florentino Perez will be at fault for letting Kovacic go. Yes, Real Madrid have midfielders like Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde to be part of the future, but Kovacic can go a notch higher than both of them if he is used properly.
In addition to that, Luka Modric is 33, Toni Kroos is nearing his 30s and Isco’s future at the club is surrounded by white lights. Therefore, selling Kovacic, especially to a direct European rival will be suicidal for Real Madrid given that he is the true successor of Luka Modric.
Should Mateo Kovacic be sold? In that case, who will be the appropriate replacement to Modric?