Manchester City have shelved their transfer interest in Mateo Kovacic after Real Madrid quoted the Premier League champions £80million, according to reports. Kovacic is eager to leave Madrid this summer in search of regular football after just 21 starts for Real in all competitions last season. The Croatian is fresh off his country’s historic World Cup run and can now focus his attention on finding a new club.
But reports claim that club is unlikely to be City after Real revealed their asking price. Manchester United are also credited with an interest in Kovacic and City’s decision could leave the Red Devils with a free crack at the midfielder. Real can name their price for Kovacic as the 24-year-old is under contract at the club until 2021.The La Liga champions are in no hurry to enter into negotiations and are still hopeful the Croatia international may change is mind about leaving. Kovacic failed to break into Zinedine Zidane’s first-team, but could be handed a fresh start by new head coach Julen Lopetegui. City’s hunt for a midfielder seems set to go on after Chelsea hijacked their deal for Jorginho.