Croatian Mateo Kovacic moved to the Spanish capital last week in a €35 million deal, leaving Inter Milan without a true playmaker and handing Real Madrid a talent they simply do not need.
Inter were looking in great shape heading into the new Serie A campaign. Transfer business had been conducted in aggressive and efficient fashion, with the sale of Xherdan Shaqiri to Stoke City the only red cross out of all the deals and the new signings looked to be settling into the squad during the preseason friendlies.
However, shortly after the club’s final match before the beginning of the new season, Roberto Mancini announced to the media that Kovacic would be joining Rafa Benítez’s men, stating the need to balance the books as the reason for his departure.
The reason in itself is fair enough, considering Inter have already been cautioned by UEFA over their dealings, and in the current transfer window the club has spent a combined total exceeding well over €50 million, in an era where Financial Fair Play restrictions have become a prevalent feature in the market. But of all the team’s players prior to the opening of the window, Kovacic and Mauro Icardi were the ones Nerazzurri fans may have argued the club should have retained at all costs.
At only 21 years of age, the midfield magician is already one of the most talented in his position throughout the world. Best operating as an advanced attacking-midfielder, Kovacic is also effective in a deeper position, somewhere he has had to ply his trade for most of the two-and-a-half year stint he had at the San Siro. A genuine playmaker, Real’s new No.16 is a constant energetic presence in midfield and one of the most inventive minds to be found in any competiton.
These were qualities Mancini’s side lacked on the weekend against Atalanta. Despite the team’s dominance on the game, breaking down the opposition’s defence proved a laborious task, and it was only after Edy Reja’s side went down to 10 men that Inter could eventually make their supremacy count.
So why would the club even entertain the sale of such a prized asset and one of football’s greatest midfield gems in the first place?
Inter Milan certainly could do with his quality, and at 21 there is still so much room to grow and improve. Javier Zanetti, during his final years captaining, labelled the technician as the most promising youngster he has seen at the Nerazzuri, apart from Brazilian front-man Ronaldo – which is quite some praise. Kovacic could have become a vital component to the team for a decade or longer, a future captain, and a club legend. Now he will likely rot on the bench at Real.
It may be true that the Croatian experienced an up and down campaign last time out, but even still, he managed to top Inter Milan’s Squawka performance score in the league with 1001, while also boasting an average pass accuracy of 87% and an average of 58% in terms of winning duels.
Rather than complain about FFP regulations, Mancini should have been a bit more cautious in the market and not sign players the squad does not need, such as Martín Montoya and João Miranda, who despite arriving on loan, would have impacted greatly upon the club’s wage bill. Had that been done, Kovacic may not have needed to be sold.
Despite receiving €35 million, it is a bad deal on Inter’s behalf, and they are now without a player who could have spearheaded a possible title charge in the near future.
As for Real Madrid, what they are obtaining is a type of player they already have in abundance, albeit at a younger age. Kovacic is not as established as the likes of compatriot Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, James Rodríguez, and Isco, and he is not likely to usurp the quadrant any time soon. Lucas Silva, Asier Illaramendi, and Casemiro are also on the books, though the 21-year-old should start ahead of them.
Barring some freak injury plague to most of Madrid’s more established midfielders, there is no chance Kovacic will become a regular, and as is so often seen at Real, those who are not instant first team hits later become outcasts who eventually are tossed away to a lesser side, such is the impaitent minded nature of the powers that be at the club.
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So it appears as if Real Madrid have thrown a large sum of money in Inter’s direction for a player they will seldom make use of. While it is true this ‘large sum of money’ is but a drop in the ocean in Madrid’s resources, it will impact upon their upcoming transfer dealings throughout the rest of the 2015-16 season due to the aforementioned FFP regulations.
Neither club or the player are better off as a result of this deal. Mancini and Inter have lost one of football’s most exciting talents, and Madrid have increased their already bloated central-midfield ranks and once again wasted money on a player who will feature mostly on the bench.
It is just a shame that the footballing world will never be able to see Kovacic reach his full potential, he could have been something special.
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