Jose Mourinho Looks to Steal Mateo Kovacic from Pep Guardiola for Only the Second Time
Jose Mourinho has a reputation for snatching top talent from under the noses of his rivals, and his latest target is none other than Mateo Kovacic, a key player in Manchester City’s midfield.
The 61-year-old Turkish coach has just started a new chapter in his illustrious career by taking the reins at Fenerbahce, and he’s already making a big push to strengthen his squad. According to Turkish media outlet Dirilis Postasi, Mourinho’s sporting director, Mario Branco, will fly to England this week to hold transfer talks with Kovacic himself and Manchester City.
Kovacic joined City last summer in a £25 million switch from Chelsea, helping the team win another Premier League title under Pep Guardiola. He made 46 appearances in all competitions, scoring three times, and has been given time off following his participation in Euro 2024 with Croatia.
The midfielder is expected to rejoin his teammates in the United States as part of City’s pre-season tour, where they’ll face AC Milan at the iconic Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Josko Gvardiol, another key player, is also set to join the team ahead of the match.
While Kovacic has been a revelation in Manchester, Mourinho may be tempted to bring him to Turkey, where he could be part of a strong midfield alongside players like Allan Saint-Maximin, Caglar Soyuncu, and Youssef En-Nesyri.
Interestingly, this could be the second time Mourinho has stolen a player from Guardiola’s ranks. The only other example is Samuel Eto’o, who left Barcelona for Inter Milan in 2009.
It’s worth noting that the only other example of Mourinho buying a player from Guardiola is Eto’o, who left Barcelona for Inter Milan in a swap deal in 2009.
So, will Mourinho succeed in his mission to poach Kovacic from City? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure – the transfer window is always full of surprises, and we’ll be following every twist and turn to keep you updated.
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