Scout Report: Inter Milan’s creative midfield talent Mateo Kovacic

Style, Strengths and Weaknesses

Kova?i? has been regarded as his nation’s next great No. 10. He is a classic playmaker with amazing attacking threat, but at the same time he has the immense potential to play ahead or behind that role. He can play anywhere in the midfield, in the centre, behind the striker or on the flanks. The 19 year old started off as an attacking midfielder, but he has astoundingly transformed his game in Milan, playing like a regista or a deep-lying playmaker. Like a good regista, the Croatian has good vision of the game, can make great interceptions and is able to perform a clean tackle. However, his natural position might be in a more advanced position. The youngster enjoys dropping deep to get the ball and then drive forward with pace and give the defenders a nightmare as he links with the other attackers.

The Inter midfielder is extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet and has great dribbling abilities which give him the confidence to take on defenders. The maturity and poise he shows at such a young age is reminiscent of Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal.

Kovacic had a pass completion rate of 93% against Chievo.(Courtesy Squawka)

Kova?i? is a brilliant passer, someone who is almost always able to find a teammate at the end of one. He can give long balls to teammates as well. In the 18 league matches he has played for Inter this season (till the game against Chievo), he has a pass completion rate of almost 91%. In Inter’s last Serie A match in the league (vs Chievo), Kova?i? had a pass accuracy rate of 93%, 78 out of 84 passes were successful for the 19 year old. His ability to see a pass and then picking it out so accurately is exceptional and is only going to get better with time.

Kovacic does not bring in a goal threat with him.(Courtesy Squawka)

Kova?i?’s main weaknesses in the game are that he doesn’t try to shoot too often and when he does, he doesn’t do a very good job of it. The player clearly has to work in that department and has plenty of time to do that as he is just 19. Once Kova?i? also has the goal threat in his game, he will be one of the most sought after players in Europe and his worth in the market will also go rising.

Quotes

“The player has talents that could make him even better than me. He is an incredibly serious professional for someone his age. Kova?i? is a complete player. He is not a born regista but he is playing there now. He is a complete talent that can still grow – he has incredible potential.” — Ex-Milan legend, Zvonimir Boban

“He isn’t a director like [Andrea] Pirlo. Given Kova?i?’s style of play and his technical characteristics he’s more of a mix of Kaka and Seedorf. Kova?i? tends to dribble, has a lot of technique and great acceleration. He’s a class player and I think his skills should be exploited to the best.” —Former Republic of Ireland boss, Giovanni Trapattoni