Premier League duo get huge boost as potential signing admits a transfer might be on the cards this summer
Tottenham and Manchester City target Mateo Kovacic wants to quit Real Madrid this summer to become a regular starter elsewhere.
The Croatian star finds himself on the bench at the World Cup following a season of sporadic appearances domestically.
And in an honest interview with Marca in Russia, the 24-year-old candidly revealed he believes leaving LaLiga giants Real is the best thing for his career.
Kovacic only made 21 LaLiga appearances last season, although injury did play a part in this, but his role as back-up has finally taken its toll.
He gave a frank assessment of his situation and will have alerted Spurs and Man City to his possible availability.
“I would like to play more at Real Madrid because I love football and I love being on the pitch,” Kovacic said.
“I know that it’s difficult to be a starter at Real Madrid, especially when I arrived at a really young age.
“I understand the situation, but because of that I believe the best thing for me would be to go to another club where I’d have the opportunity to play regularly as a starter.
“I think I can have this opportunity and it’s one I want right now.”
And while Kovacic acknowledges his role at LaLiga giants Real is important for the club, despite his lack of minutes, he insisted he wants things to change for the sake of his own happiness.
“I think that all of the players at Real Madrid are important,” he added.
“The problem is that it’s difficult to get consistency when you’re a young player.
“Without that consistency I will never be able to show my potential.
“Of course I am not happy when I don’t play.
“I have really enjoyed these three years in Madrid, alongside some incredible teammates and winning trophies, but I haven’t been completely happy because my contribution to all of this hasn’t been complete and this is something I want to change.”
Real Madrid will start the season with Julen Lopetegui in charge following the departure of Zinedine Zidane.
And Kovacic wants immediate talks with the incoming boss as he seeks for clarification as he blame his current role as a substitute for Croatia at the World Cup on his domestic predicament.
“I don’t know the new coach and I’ve never spoken to him, but I know that we need to talk about my future,” he continued.
“I have been at Real Madrid for three years and haven’t played too much, something which has affected my status with the national team.
“This is something I’m not happy about.
“That’s why the best thing would be to change team.
“Real Madrid are an extraordinary team with great players and maybe I am too young to contribute at 100 per cent, I don’t know.”
talkSPORT will be with listeners all day and all night at this year’s 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with over 800 hours of World Cup content and all 64 games live across the talkSPORT network.
