2023-06-28 01:12:14
Following the departure of club captain Ilkay Gundogan to Barcelona, the European champions and treble winners moved quickly to secure the services of Croatia international Kovacic on a four-year contract.
“It’s a brilliant decision for me, and I can’t wait to get started with City,” said Kovacic, who will wear Gundogan’s No.8 shirt at the Etihad Stadium.
“Anyone who watched this team under Pep [Guardiola] knows how good they are – for me they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear to everyone, but they are also the best team in football. Joining this team is truly a dream for any footballer.
“I still have a lot of learning and development to do, and I know that under Pep I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me.
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“My plan now is to rest for a few weeks before returning to Manchester to prepare for the new season. I want to help this club stay at the top and win more trophies.
City will pay an initial fee of £25million for Kovacic, who had one year left on his contract at Chelsea, with an additional £5million agreed in add-ons.
The 29-year-old passed his medical on Friday before putting pen to paper, making him the latest in a string of player deals the Blues are set to complete this summer.
The push to adhere to Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules will see £130million from players cashed in by the club, with Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy among those set to leave, following Kalidou Koulibaly at the door.
Commenting on Kovacic’s arrival, City director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “Mateo is an excellent footballer.
“He can play in 6 or 8, has a lot of experience at top clubs and he understands the Premier League. It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities that we are looking for in a midfielder.
“He’s someone we’ve been watching for a very long time and we’ve always been impressed every time we’ve watched him.
“I’m glad he’s here. He’s a great signing for this club, and I’m very excited to see what he can do with Pep and the rest of our team behind the scenes.
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