Real Madrid have completed the signing of 21-year-old Matteo Kova?i? from Inter Milan, according to their official Twitter page.
Comunicado oficial: Mateo Kova?i?. http://t.co/t5BjaE0QFD #BienvenidoAlRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/KEsqNDoge5
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 18, 2015
Kova?i? started his professional career with Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16, with whom he won two consecutive league titles, before joining Inter Milan in 2013.
Internazionale have sold the 21-year-old midfielder to Real Madrid for $39 million, despite his slow start at the San Siro and debate over his best position. Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has reportedly been a long time-admirer of the Croatian international, and finds his technical skills — added to his composure, elegance and touch — as prerequisites for his team if they are to wrestle the La Liga crown back from the hands of their bitter rivals, Barcelona.
However, Matteo Kova?i? is not the last player Real Madrid are hoping to sign before the end of the transfer window, with Rafael Benitez also keen to bolster his goalkeeping options with the arrival of David De Gea from Manchester United.
Internazionale’s coach Roberto Mancini blamed the Financial Fair Play rules as the main reason that he had to let go of Kova?i?. Inter have already sold Xherdan Shaqiri to Stoke this summer.
Speaking to Mediaset Premium, Mancini reaffirmed his club’s inherently weak position in the transaction.
“What can you do? There are rules to respect. There is FFP and I don’t think any of us wanted this but unfortunately we have to follow Uefa’s impositions. This doesn’t mean we’re not trying to make a team that can fight without him. We’re all disappointed, from the president, to me, the directors and his team-mates. Both he and Shaqiri left for the same reason. But we’ll do other things. We hope to take in players that suit us. We’ll see what happens.”
Yes, Roberto, we will wait and see what happens.
Matteo Kova?i? becomes Real Madrid’s fifth signing of the summer.
[Photo via Metro ]
