By Daily Sports on July 23, 2018

Wantaway midfielder Mateo Kovacic reportedly stuck to his guns during a meeting with Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui this week.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who has been linked with Manchester City, made it publicly known last month that he was seeking a transfer from Real in order play more frequently.

And according to Marca, he reiterated his stance to Lopetegui on Friday in a meeting that was brief due to Kovacic wasting no time in getting to the point.

Kovacic started just 10 La Liga games last season.

He still did enough to earn a place in Croatia's World Cup squad but got just 183 minutes of game time in Russia, where his country finished as runners up to champions France.

Kovacic outlined the reasons behind his desire to leave the Bernabeu earlier this summer when he told Marca: 'I know that at Madrid it's difficult to be a starter, especially because I arrived very young.

'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.

'It's an opportunity that I think I can have and I want it now.'

Kovacic has been a Real player for three years, having joined from Inter Milan in August 2015.

Pep Guardiola is in the market for a new midfielder after Chelsea beat City to the signing of Jorginho from Napoli. (Daily Mail)

•Photo shows Kovacic

Source Daily Sports

Posted July 23, 2018

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