Kovacic reject Man Utd move, faults Mourinho’s style

Mateo Kovacic has rejected the chance to join Manchester United after a €60 million (£53m) offer was submitted to Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Jose Mourinho is keen on bolstering his squad ahead of the new season and is confident that United will sign at least one more player before the transfer window closes next Thursday. Kovacic, meanwhile, has already expressed his desire to leave Real Madrid this summer after failing to hold down a regular first-team place at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“When I don’t play of course I’m not happy. I’ve enjoyed these three years in Madrid hugely, with incredible teammates, winning trophies”, the midfielder said last month. “But I haven’t been completely happy because my contribution to all of this has not been the biggest and it’s something I want to change.”

The Croatia international was signed in a £22.5m deal from Inter three years ago but has only started 37 La Liga games since then. According to Marca, Mourinho is aware that Kovacic is keen on joining a new club this summer and United have submitted a bid to Madrid.

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But while Kovacic remains intent on leaving the Champions League holders, the midfielder does not want to join United, primarily due to the concerns he has over the team’s playing style under Mourinho.

United have sent an intermediary, Vlado Lemic, to help broker the deal with Madrid but Marca claim that Kovacic has major reservations about a move to Old Trafford.

Madrid, meanwhile, are keen to keep the 24-year-old at the club. Kovacic is due to return to pre-season training with Madrid in the coming days after featuring for Croatia at the World Cup and Julen Lopetegui will attempt to convince the midfielder to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season.