Mateo Kovacic

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Would be great as a rotation option with Herrera/Pogba (assuming we go 4-3-3). Needs to be more incisive with his passing, but those bursting runs he does from midfield are fantastic. Exciting player to watch.
 
Donut said:
Not even Croatians would say this.
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National allegiance has nothing to do with it. He's behind the best duo in the world right now Kroos/Modric, so not really in a position to show his worth week in week out.

I have followed Kovacic since the Inter days, he is an unquestionable talent in my mind.

Btw, Perez seems to invest heavily in young Spanish talent (Marcos Llorente, Jesus Vallejo, Borja Mayoral, Dani Ceballos, Theo) these days in addition to Asensio, Isco, Carvajal, Nacho, Morata who are all under 25 yrs old.
 
Going to Madrid was a bad career choice.

And maybe it's just me but I never got the hype. He's a decent player, decent at everything, master of nothing.
 
Ban said:
Going to Madrid was a bad career choice.

And maybe it's just me but I never got the hype. He's a decent player, decent at everything, master of nothing.
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Yeah, that's just wrong. There are hardly any midfielders as good as him when it comes to dribbling, his passing is excellent as well. Zidane has done a good job with with. He used to be very lazy without the ball at Inter, but nowadays you can play him as holding midfielder and he'll do well.
 
bucky said:
Yeah, that's just wrong. There are hardly any midfielders as good as him when it comes to dribbling, his passing is excellent as well. Zidane has done a good job with with. He used to be very lazy without the ball at Inter, but nowadays you can play him as holding midfielder and he'll do well.
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We'll have to disagree on that.
 
Stated that the Madrid move will be bad for his career. Now with Real Madrid interest in Dani Ceballos, his career at Madrid might be over. I use to be a huge fan of his and I hope he can get his career back together. Might do well at Newcastle. I believe Rafa bought him at Madrid. Might take another swipe at him.
 
I think going to a club like Dortmund or Monaco would be a good move for him but with the way Real Madrid price their players I can't imagine either can afford him.
 
I'm still unsure what his best position is. He had a few games at DM replacing Casemiro where he impressed IIRC but with Llorente coming in even that option's probably blocked.
 
He is a very good player and has huge potential. It could make click one day and he could be a top midfield player in the future. But it hasnt happened yet and could never happen, but the talent is there.

He obviously has consistency issues and doubts remain about his decision making/positional sense, but on the ball he is class. His technique, passing and dribbling are very good. Even if he didnt play as a starter often for Real, i think he is slowly getting better at his weaknesses. The few times i saw him for Real, he impressed me. He reminds me of Barkley though, with his weaknesses and positional dilemma (number 10 or number 8?), but he is better.
 
roonster09 said:
Kovacic is 24 and Kroos is 27, so looks like the player should wait at least 6-7 more years before getting shot at first team.
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Kovavcic is still 23. Besides, Kroos has declared repeatedly he will retire at 30-32. Whilst his partner Modric is 31. Within 2 years Kovavcic should be a starter and by the time Kroos retires he will be 27-28 and in his prime. Unless he gets unhappy, or a manager who doesn't rate him takes the reigns, Real ain't never selling him
 
Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
Kovavcic is still 23. Besides, Kroos has declared repeatedly he will retire at 30-32. Whilst his partner Modric is 31. Within 2 years Kovavcic should be a starter and by the time Kroos retires he will be 27-28 and in his prime. Unless he gets unhappy, or a manager who doesn't rate him takes the reigns, Real ain't never selling him
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Not sure if world class talent will wait till they are 27 or 28 to play regularly, especially if some big clubs promise him key role.

Also not sure Kroos said that, never heard about it.
 
Are we even linked? I'm not really sure if he's exactly what we we need, because I haven't see all that much of him. I think someone said earlier in the thread, but he seems like a Spurs player - not that spurs will pay what Real will be asking for him.
 
roonster09 said:
Not sure if world class talent will wait till they are 27 or 28 to play regularly, especially if some big clubs promise him key role.
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The poster said Kovacic may replace Modric within two years, so he'd be ~25 by then. It would be the same career path as Isco's, who has been very patient and now finally looks to have his big breakthrough. But I agree it's rather unusual for players to wait that long, the only reason I can think of here is the Real Madrid factor. The possible arrival of Ceballos might be an additional problem, but Kovacic could also challenge Casemiro/Llorente, depending on how Zidane sees him.

roonster09 said:
Also not sure Kroos said that, never heard about it.
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Kroos said he's seriously considering retiring at the end of his current contract (2022) because his pro career started so early and he's not interested in playing at a lower level. But that's still a long way off and he also said it isn't definite. I don't think it will be something Kovacic counts on.
 
Suedesi said:
National allegiance has nothing to do with it. He's behind the best duo in the world right now Kroos/Modric, so not really in a position to show his worth week in week out.

I have followed Kovacic since the Inter days, he is an unquestionable talent in my mind.

Btw, Perez seems to invest heavily in young Spanish talent (Marcos Llorente, Jesus Vallejo, Borja Mayoral, Dani Ceballos, Theo) these days in addition to Asensio, Isco, Carvajal, Nacho, Morata who are all under 25 yrs old.
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Smart move by Perez that. He seems to be more mature in the market these last years.
 
VorZakone said:
Smart move by Perez that. He seems to be more mature in the market these last years.
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It's the market. 8 years ago we could sign almost anyone from almost anywhere

Now, even arsenal refuse to sell bellerin or alexis in the final year of his contract. You either sign them before another big club does, or risk losing them forever
 
I think he's a little overrated on here. I don't see the need to spend 50m euros on him.
 
Suedesi said:
Release clause 50 million Euros. I'd take him in a heartbeat over the rumored Sergi Roberto.
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Roberto does have the advantage of being very versatile though. And apparently would be a bit cheaper.

I don't think either will or should happen though, but I do think Kovacic will leave Real in the next 18 months or so.
 
In my opinion he is a fantastic talent. Different to Pogba but maybe more incisive in attack. I don't think there's room for the two in the starting line-up.

Madrid has a bunch of talent that will keep them as top dogs in the following years.
 
Madrid will just insert a buy-back clause in his contract if he is going to be sold anywhere.
 
I'd pass on either Kovacic or Sergi Roberto and go for Dendonker instead.

Not saying that Kovacic is rubbish. He's a pretty good talent but has stalled at Real and would cost a lot imo.
 
He's going to take over from Modric next year. Highly doubt he would want to come here, even if he trigger his release clause.
 
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