Kovacic Commits
Kovacic Commits Future to Manchester City Despite Injury Setbacks and Transfer Speculation
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Key Points
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Juventus and Inter Milan were explicitly named as clubs showing concrete interest in signing Kovacic, highlighting potential links back to Italy.
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Kovacic endured Achilles and ankle injuries last season, restricting him to nine appearances and causing him to miss a large portion of the campaign.
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Maresca’s update on Kovacic’s future after the Inter friendly was described as lukewarm, with the manager saying 'Mateo is our player, until the day he is here I will try all my best' and that he would continue to work with him.
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The midfield has become more crowded with new signings Elliot Anderson and Tijjani Reijnders, increasing competition for Kovacic’s playing time.
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Kovacic suggested he can adapt to fill midfield roles, including stepping in when Rodri is unavailable, signaling his readiness to compete for minutes in City’s midfield.
Mateo Kovacic has confirmed he will stay at Manchester City for the 2025-26 season, ending weeks of transfer speculation. The Croatian midfielder said the club "count on me" and that he is fully focused on competing for his place, according to BBC Sport.
Kovacic had been strongly linked with a return to Italy, with Yahoo Sports reporting that both Juventus and Inter Milan showed concrete interest in signing him. But after talks with manager Enzo Maresca and club officials, Kovacic made his decision to stay clear.
Injury-Hit Season Left Kovacic's Future in Doubt
Last season was a painful one for Kovacic. Achilles and ankle injuries restricted him to just nine appearances across the entire campaign. That limited output fuelled uncertainty about his long-term role at the Etihad, and opened the door for Serie A clubs to circle.
Kovacic joined City from Chelsea in 2023 and has won multiple trophies since arriving. His contract runs until 2027, giving City no financial pressure to sell. But his lack of minutes last season made his situation easy for other clubs to exploit, according to AOL Sports.
Maresca's Lukewarm Words Stoked the Speculation
Manager Enzo Maresca did little to calm the rumours after City's pre-season friendly against Inter Milan. He said, "Mateo is our player, until the day he is here I will try all my best" — a response widely read as non-committal. It did not shut the door on a sale, and the headlines followed.
Maresca has since offered a clearer, more supportive stance. He confirmed Kovacic is part of his plans and said he would do everything he could to help him. The manager's updated tone appears to have played a key role in convincing Kovacic to stay, according to BBC Sport.
New Signings Make City's Midfield More Crowded Than Ever
Kovacic's challenge now is fighting for minutes in a very competitive midfield. City brought in Elliot Anderson and Tijjani Reijnders this summer, adding depth to an already packed area. Kovacic will not walk straight back into the starting eleven, according to Yahoo Sports.
Kovacic says he is ready for that fight. He pointed out he can cover multiple midfield roles, including filling in for Rodri when the Spanish anchor is unavailable. "There are no question marks," he said. "The responsibility is on me to show my best version," as reported by BBC Sport.
Kovacic Stays Focused as City Build for New Season
With his future settled, Kovacic can now put his full energy into his pre-season preparation. After missing most of last year, he will be eager to show Maresca what he is capable of when fit. A strong start to the season could quickly silence any lingering doubts, according to Malaysia Yahoo News.
For City, keeping Kovacic adds experience and flexibility to their squad. He brings Champions League pedigree and versatility that money cannot quickly replace. If he stays healthy, he could still be a key player — just not the automatic starter he once was.
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