Breaking: Mateo Kovacic Joins City for Four-Year Deal

Posted : 28 June 2023

Mateo Kovacic, the 29-year-old Croatian midfielder, bid farewell to Chelsea after an impressive five-year stint and has now officially signed a four-year contract with Manchester City for a reported fee of £25 million.

Kovacic's arrival at City coincides with Ilkay Gundogan's recent departure to Barcelona. City manager, Txiki Begiristain, expressed his excitement about the acquisition, praising Kovacic's versatility and labeling him as a valuable addition to the team.

In other football news, the Italian club Sampdoria has made an announcement regarding their new manager, appointing the esteemed Andrea Pirlo to lead the team for the next two years.

Pirlo, a former legendary player, aims to guide Sampdoria back to Serie A after their relegation to the second division last season.

Prior to his current appointment, Pirlo had brief coaching stints with Fatih Kargomark in the Turkish League and Juventus in the 2020/21 season, albeit with less success.

Meanwhile, an interesting development has taken place in Italian football this season, with a new regulation prohibiting players from wearing the number 88 due to its association with Nazism.

As for Chelsea, the club continues to offload surplus players, with several individuals opting to join teams in Saudi Arabia. The reasons behind this trend are yet to be fully understood.

Kovacic's impressive career includes 221 appearances for Chelsea, during which he secured multiple titles, including the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup.

He was also recognized as Chelsea's Player of the Year in the 2019/20 season.

Furthermore, Kovacic boasts 95 international caps for Croatia, playing a pivotal role in their journey to the 2018 World Cup final and their third-place finish in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Kovacic stated, "Joining City is a significant move for me, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to contribute to the team. Watching Pep's team play, it's evident that they are the best in the world. Becoming a part of this team is truly a dream come true for any footballer. Under Pep's guidance, I believe I can further develop and enhance my skills. I'm thrilled about the prospects ahead. After a few weeks of rest, my focus will shift to preparing for the upcoming season in Manchester. I am determined to assist the club in maintaining their position at the top and clinching more silverware."

Breaking: Mateo Kovacic Joins City for Four-Year Deal

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