Shola Ameobi lavished praise on to Mateo Kovacic for his masterful performance for Manchester City in his side’s 1-0 win against Newcastle United.
Speaking on City’s full-time show after the contest, the Magpies hero gave his two cents on the £25 million (Sky Sports) man’s showing on Saturday.
Shola Ameobi could not help but marvel at the stunning showing from Manchester City new-boy Mateo Kovacic against Newcastle United.
Shola Ameobi raves about Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic after Newcastle masterclass
Branded as an ‘exceptional player’ by Pep Guardiola, the Croatian was an untouchable presence in the middle of the park, being irresistibly press-resistant, breaking the lines, leaving defenders for dead and exhibiting his technical excellence.
While the 29-year-old has looked like an instant hit in all of his games for City so far, he saved his best performance for Eddie Howe’s side.
Shola Ameobi initially lauded the Manchester City pair of Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden for taking the game away from Newcastle.
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“That was the difference for me in the game, the two midfielders. Look at Kovacic, look at Foden. They were class out there. Really sharp, really playing through the lines”, he said.
Former Newcastle goalscorer Shola Ameobi emphasised why Manchester City have signed a gem in Mateo Kovacic, saying, “He’s a top, top player and when you have a player like that who comes from another big side, like he’s mentioned before, he’s played for top clubs in Europe, he fits straight into the system because he’s a clever player. He’s a very smart player.”
“Certainly, to play in the side, you have to be a smart player and Pep [Guardiola] rarely gets it wrong when he brings in a player. To lose your captain [Ilkay Gundogan] and slot him straight in, it just seems seamless.”
Mateo Kovacic is the bargain of the summer
As Shola Ameobi said, not just against Newcastle but so far in his Manchester City career, Mateo Kovacic has looked like the real deal.
Only injuries and an unstable Chelsea team perhaps have restricted the three-time Champions League winner from being heralded as a genuinely world-class midfielder.
As Kovacic continues to show in sky blue, when he is fit and firing and is a part of a stable side, he is one of the best in the world in his position.
For Manchester City to have signed him for just £25 million is a ridiculously astute piece of business as he will only get better and better under Pep Guardiola’s guidance.