Mateo Kovacic has revealed who helped to convince him to join Manchester City from Chelsea.
Kovacic became City’s first – and so far, only – signing of the summer transfer window when he completed a £25m move from Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola was keen to bring in the Croatian midfielder as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who joined Barcelona when his City contract expired at the end of last season.
Kovacic has enjoyed a glittering career at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea, and already has four Champions League winners’ medals to his name.
The 29-year-old is accustomed to success, but the promise of silverware wasn’t the only thing that convinced him to join City.
Kovacic isn’t the first Croatian to play for City
Vedran Corluka made 47 appearances for the club across 2007/08 and 2008/09 after joining from Dinamo Zagreb, the club where Kovacic also began his career.
Speaking to City’s official magazine, Kovacic revealed he sought Corluka’s advice before joining City.
“Of course, I spoke with Vedran,” Kovacic said.
“He is a really good friend of mine, we shared a dressing room together for a few years, now he’s the second coach of the national team.
“He only had good words for City, and he knows that I will enjoy it.
“He enjoyed it as well, not for a long time, but it was a huge pleasure for him to be a part of Manchester City.”
MCN view: Kovacic is an astute signing and will prove a hit
At 29 years old Kovacic might not have years and years at the elite level left in him, but for £25m City would have been foolish to turn down a player of his quality and versatility.
The Croatian star is expected to play as an attacking midfielder, a slightly more advanced role than the one he tended to perform at Stamford Bridge.
However, he could also play in a deeper role if Rodri is unavailable.
That kind of versatility, coupled with technical excellence, suits Guardiola’s system right down to the ground.
