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Real Madrid midfielder Matteo Kovacic is now under an increasing pressure to decide his future. This month would be a decisive period for the Croatian's future, as Chelsea must evaluate the possibility of his permanent transfer before his loan contract expires.
The 25-year-old midfielder has a somewhat mixed spell under Maurizio Sarri after joining the Blues a season ago. He did showcase parts of his enormous potential, but he failed to deliver his best in the end. Critics also have slammed his goal contributions, as he has been unable to register even a single goal throughout the campaign.
The former Dinamo Zagreb star only managed to start 21 league games for Chelsea during the term, and Sarri rarely gave him the chance to play for full 90 minutes. Real Madrid, on the other hand, have spent around €300 million on transfers and will be under pressure to offload the Croatian star.
There are not many clubs which have put interest in the 25-year-old at the moment, but we will try to figure out Kovacic's possible future in this piece.
#3 Return to Real Madrid
It is understandable that the Los Blancos are reluctant to keep the Croatian, as a report has stated that the La Liga side had tried to include Kovacic in the Eden Hazard deal. Unfortunately, Chelsea rejected the proposal and Madrid paid straight cash for the Belgian megastar.
Despite Madrid's unwillingness to retain him, Kovacic can still end up at the Bernabeu once more. His potential return, however, may only be Madrid's last resort if the club fails to find any matching suitors for the unfortunate midfielder.
Kovacic endured a nightmarish spell under Zinedine Zidane in the 2017/18 season, starting just 10 La Liga matches. With the French manager taking charge of Madrid for the second time, Los Blancos will likely try to loan Kovacic again if he returns.
#2 Chelsea
The Blues will have a tough time deciding Kovacic's future due to the midfielder's mixed display. Many thought that the gifted playmaker would suit Maurizio Sarri's attacking football perfectly when the player's arrival was announced in August last year.
Unfortunately, the Croatian failed to justify the expectations. Chelsea also seem reluctant to retain the player's services following Sarri's imminent departure to Juventus. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old still has a chance to extend his stay at the Stamford Bridge.
The Blues are likely to face a two-window transfer ban despite their recent appeal. Thus, Kovacic could be one of the club's best possible solutions for the situation. Chelsea will be able to sign the Croatian regardless of the ban because the player was registered last season.
The 25 years old's overall display in the Europa League was also decent, as he started nearly all of Chelsea's games in the competition. Hence, Kovacic's vital contribution to the Blues's Europa League triumph could play a huge role in convincing the club's board.
#1 Inter Milan
The Serie A side are one of few clubs which managed to bring the best out of Kovacic. The player's enormous potential has been spotted since his breakthrough season at Dinamo Zagreb. However, he experienced the best of his career when he played in Italy.
The 25-year-old amassed 26 starts for Inter in 2014/15 season, contributing 5 goals and 3 assists for the club. He also impressed at the Europa League at that time, as he had made 8 appearances and scored 3 times in the European competition. His promising display at Inter was the main reason why Real Madrid bought him for a massive €35 million.
Now, numerous reports state that the Milan-based club are keen on bringing back the midfielder to Serie A. Inter are said to have waited for Madrid's decision over Kovacic's future, but it is still unknown whether the Serie A outfit want to meet the player's €50 million valuation.
Many expect Inter to spend heavily in the transfer market following the appointment of Antonio Conte. The Nezzaruzzi have made clear their intention to end Juventus's Serie A dominance and Kovacic could be the answer to achieve the objective.
