Mateo Kovacic admits he wants to leave Real Madrid after finding his first-team opportunities limited since moving to the club in 2015.
The Croatian arrived at Los Blancos from Inter Milan after impressing in Serie A but has struggled to break into the starting 11 in his three years.
The 24-year-old, who made 40 appearances last season in all competitions but rarely started, insists he needs to be playing regularly if he wants to develop as a player and is ready to move if he can’t get more minutes at Madrid.
“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,” he told Marca in Russia where he is part of Croatia’s World Cup squad.
“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.
“I would like to play more at Real Madrid because I love football and I love being on the pitch.
“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.”
Historical hattrick 🏆🏆🏆#ThreeInARow #HalaMadrid #APorLa13 #makinghistory #23 pic.twitter.com/JbsrHvGV2V
— Mateo Kovačić (@Mateo_Kova23) May 27, 2018
Kovacic could be given a lifeline when he joins up with his Real team-mates later this summer after Julen Lopetegui replaced Zinedine Zidane as head coach.
With question marks over the future direction under Lopetegui, this season could be the breakthrough for the Croatian but he reiterated the importance of playing regularly.
“I think that all of the players at Real Madrid are important,” he said. “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.”
