Real Madrid transfer rumor: Inter Milan determined to bring Mateo Kovacic back
By Ben Sundock
Inter Milan is showing interest in bringing back Mateo Kovacic after his recent success with Real Madrid. The Italian club has engaged in transfer talks with Los Blancos as they try to bring the Croatian back to the San Siro. Will it happen?
Inter Milan director of football, Piero Ausilio, is “determined” to bring the 23-year-old midfielder back to Italy, according to Calciomercato.com and Bleacher Report. Mateo has been with Real Madrid for three years now and has started to become more of a regular for Zinedine Zidane.
But, a €30 million offer from Inter could persuade the 12-time Champions League winner’s to sell the promising player. Kova moved to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2015 and has since become the first man off the bench to replace either Toni Kroos or Luka Modric.
While he may not be a regular starter, making 35 La Liga starts over the course of two and a half seasons, he has still played significant minutes in every competition (992 minutes in league and UCL play).
Liverpool has also been in hot pursuit of Kovacic, looking to add more depth to their already stacked midfield. If it came down to a bidding war between the Italian and English clubs, I think The Reds would have the upper hand since they have a significantly higher transfer budget.
However, I don’t think Mateo will leave Spain after this season.
This has been by far his best season with Real and it is clear that manager Zinedine Zidane is beginning to give Kova more and more playing time and responsibility.
Against FC Barcelona in December, he was tasked with shadowing Lionel Messi for the entire match and performed admirably. Against PSG in the Champions League round of 16, we saw the Croatian dominate the midfield with pinpoint passing and world-class dribbling.
Plus, with fellow countrymen Luka Modric approaching his mid-30’s and nearing the end of his current Real Madrid contract, Mateo could very soon see himself staring alongside Kroos and Casemiro in the stout midfield trio.
I don’t think Real Madrid would be willing to let the sneakily talented Kovacic leave for around the same amount they paid to Inter in the first place.
President Florentino Perez and Zidane have made it clear that they are building this team to be successful right now and five years down the road.
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Mateo should be at the forefront of that future plan along with Marco Asensio, Jesús Vallejo, and Casemiro.
I simply can’t see this move going through. If it does, I will be shocked.