Rumour Mongering: Liverpool-Linked Kovacic Demands Real Madrid Exit

Before the World Cup, Real Madrid’s Croatian attacking midfielder Mateo Kovacic wanted out but with the focus on the summer tournament he put any final decision off until he was done in Russia. Now, the World Cup is over—and he still wants out.

At least according to Marca, who claim that the 24-year-old met with new Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui on Friday to reiterate his desire to leave the Spanish giants and that at least five big European clubs, including Liverpool, are interested in signing him.

“I understand the situation but that’s why I think it’s best for me to go to another club where I will have the chance to play regularly as a starter,” was Kovacic’s stance when asked about his future recently, and Marca insist he’s more determined to leave than ever.

Of course, wanting to leave doesn’t necessarily mean that he will be allowed to by his current club, and Liverpool are just one name he’s being linked to by the Spanish outlet along with Bayern Munich, Juventus, and both Manchester clubs.

Still, Liverpool are known to retain an interest in signing an attacking midfielder—even if reports suggest that Klopp and the club are largely resigned to heading into the season without such a signing following the collapse of the Nabil Fekir deal.

So while it’s probably far too early to get excited about Kovacic wanting out and the player being oh-so-tenuously linked with an Anfield switch, it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if in the coming weeks something rather more substantial developed.

”It’s an opportunity I think I can have and I want it now,” Kovacic added. “I‘ve enjoyed these years in Madrid hugely, with incredible teammates [and] winning trophies, but I haven’t been completely happy because my contribution has not been the biggest.”