Latest news with #MateoKovacic
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sucic followed Man City midfielder's advice to join Inter
Petar Sucic reveals his compatriots Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic all advised him to join Inter: 'Lautaro Martinez sent me a beautiful message as soon as I signed.' The Croatia international formally joined the Nerazzurri only a few weeks ago, although he had completed his medical and signed his contract with the Serie A giants in February 2025. Sucic opens up about Inter transfer (From L) Italy's midfielder #18 Nicolo Barella and Croatia's midfielder #08 Mateo Kovacic collide during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group B football match between Croatia and Italy at the Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig on June 24, 2024. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP) (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images) 'Everything is going great. It's a big life and career change, but I strongly wanted it. I'm at a truly massive club, and I want to fully enjoy this experience, both as a footballer and as a person. Of course, I want to win,' the Croatian midfielder told Gazzetta. Advertisement Sucic has already made his debut with the Nerazzurri in the Club World Cup. 'I started by taking private Italian lessons over the last few months. I don't speak it yet, but I understand almost everything, even if sometimes Italians talk really fast,' he said. 'Lautaro sent me a beautiful message as soon as I signed and offered his help, just like a real captain. Others have helped me too. Hakan [Calhanoglu] has been amazing. Mkhitaryan acts as my official translator when needed. He speaks so many languages. Croatian may be the only one he's missing.' How about Inter's new coach, Cristian Chivu? 'He loves what he does, and he shows it. He's precise in every single training session, and I've also noticed another important quality. He speaks directly and says what he thinks to your face,' said Sucic. Other Serie A clubs wanted Sucic epaselect epa11661068 Petar Sucic (L) and Borna Sosa (R) of Croatia celebrate a goal during the UEFA Nations League group A1 match between Poland and Croatia in Warsaw, Poland, 15 October 2024. EPA-EFE/Piotr Nowak POLAND OUT 'He's not beating around the bush; he gets straight to the point. He hasn't had any specific requests of me so far. I want to build chemistry with my teammates and understand how to play, how we train and where I've arrived. Basically everything.' Advertisement The 21-year-old confirmed that other Serie A clubs were interested in his services, but he only wanted to sign for the Nerazzurri. 'It's true, but I won't say which ones,' he said. 'When my agent said Inter wanted me, I said, 'I only want to go there.' This is a special club also because of all the Croatians who have worn this shirt. Brozovic, Perisic and Kovacic. They all told me the same thing: 'Go to Inter without even thinking about it.' Let's say I just followed their advice.' Sucic will make a remarkable reunion with his compatriot Luka Modric in 2025-26 as the experienced midfielder is set to sign a one-year deal with Inter's city rivals Milan. Advertisement 'It'll be amazing if he signs. Playing a derby against Modric would be special,' said the Inter midfielder. 'We've only ever played together for the national team. For us Croatians, he's simply the greatest ever. Everyone wants to be like Luka. I can't imagine what it's like to play against him, but the Milan derby and San Siro are truly unique. When I first walked in for Inter-Fiorentina, I was like 'wow.' It's not a stadium, it's the home of football.' Sucic has signed a contract until June 2030 at the Stadio Meazza.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Pep Guardiola admits Man City will actively trim squad size ahead of Premier League season amid interest in two key players
Pep Guardiola has predicted that Manchester City will actively trim their squad down before the start of the Premier League season. City took 24 outfield players and three goalkeepers to the Club World Cup in America and face Al Ain in the second group game looking to secure qualification in the early hours of Monday morning. Ilkay Gundogan is wanted by Galatasaray, while the injured Mateo Kovacic has had suitors. Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker are not part of the travelling party but are to be moved on. Guardiola claimed earlier in the year that he will need a larger squad in future after being rocked by a steady stream of injuries through the last campaign. But after making eight signings since January, he is also mindful that City cannot keep everybody happy if the size of the group remains the same. Guardiola has typically operated with around 20 outfield players during his time at the Etihad Stadium. 'No news, good news,' Guardiola said when asked about Gundogan's future. 'I don't know anything, I didn't speak with him, and if he will not be part he would not be here. 'But at the same time, we have - right now - a long squad, too many players, so we cannot go with 26, 27 players this season because there would be more without playing, and step by step maybe a few players are going to more.' Guardiola confirmed that Rodri is not yet ready to start a game despite featuring for half an hour during the 2-0 win over Wydad AC. The Catalan talked up the impact the South American teams have had on the competition, not closing the door on potentially managing on that continent in the future, before a potential banana skin against Al Ain, owned by the brother of Sheikh Mansour. 'I feel it's a privilege to be here,' he added. 'This is a privilege because in four years time (we might not qualify). Four years to be there you have to win big prizes. 'We have a lot of respect for Al Ain, for the connection to our owners being from Abu Dhabi, and of course we have a huge opportunity to go to the next round and we'll see. Many things can happen, and we're going to take it seriously.'
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Man City agree deal to sign AC Milan's Reijnders
Manchester City have agreed a 55m euros (£46.3m) deal with AC Milan for Netherlands midfielder Tijjani 26-year-old will sign a five-year contract at Etihad Stadium after agreeing personal terms with deal, which is subject to a medical, includes additional payments if certain clauses are met. City hope to complete a deal for Reijnders in time for this month's Club World Cup, which kicks off on 14 arrival will strengthen an area of the pitch that has been weakened by injury to Mateo Kovacic, who has been ruled out of the 32-team tournament in the United States after undergoing Achilles Kevin de Bruyne is also expected not to be involved in the tournament, with a move to Serie A champions Napoli looking increasingly likely.
Daily Tribune
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
Man City's Kovacic out of Club World Cup after surgery
Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury and will miss the FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester City announced yesterday. The Croatian midfielder, 31, played 42 games for the Premier League club during the recently concluded season, scoring seven goals. ' Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery,' City said in a statement. Fellow midfielder Rodri, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, made his return to action on May 20 after eight months out with a knee injury. But City manager Pep Guardiola has warned he will have to be managed carefully
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mateo Kovacic issues nine-word statement following surgery setback and Manchester City absence
Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic has spoken for the first time on social media since the club confirmed the midfielder had undergone surgery on an Achilles injury. A statement issued by the club on Monday morning confirmed that the Croatia international would be absent from the club's upcoming FIFA Club World Cup campaign, with the understanding from the side of his national team being a three-month absence. Advertisement 'Manchester City can confirm that Mateo Kovacic has undergone surgery on an Achilles injury,' a statement issued from the Etihad Stadium read this week. 'The Croatian midfielder is now set to miss the FIFA Club World Cup as City head to the USA in June,' Manchester City added. 'Mateo will spend the summer rehabilitating from the operation and everyone at the Club wishes him a speedy recovery.' Speaking earlier on during the ongoing international break, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić told a press conference on Kovacic, 'He had an injury and missed the [FA] Cup final. He thought rest would help, but it didn't. Advertisement 'Pain and swelling appeared, concerning the heel tendon. The Club decided he must undergo surgery. The recovery is expected to take about three months.' Now, having undergone surgery and made his first strides into a rehabilitation process alongside instruction from Manchester City, Mateo Kovacic has addressed supporters of both his club and country on Instagram. Accompanying a photo of himself emerging following surgery around an Achilles problem in his left foot, Kovacic wrote on social media, 'Surgery went well. Now patience, hard work, and faith.' Instagram: mateokovacic8 Manchester City are expecting to welcome midfield reinforcements in time for the start of the FIFA Club World Cup and the close of the mini-summer transfer window introduced to allow teams to make signings ahead of the tournament. Advertisement Operating in a similar role to Kovacic, there is confidence within the Etihad Stadium that Tijjani Reijnders will arrive on a long-term contract from AC Milan, while the club are continuing in their pursuit of Lyon's Rayan Cherki. The latter is viewed as a direct replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, after Manchester City bosses took the difficult decision of not renewing the Belgian's expiring contract, as such paving the way for him to complete a free transfer move to Serie A Champions Napoli in the coming days.
