Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic is set to join Roma just 12 months after joining the European champions from Inter, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, via Marca.
Zinedine Zidane’s team paid £22.5m to sign Kovacic from Inter last summer but the Croatia international has failed to nail down a regular starting spot under both Rafa Benitez and then Zidane last season.
Kovacic has since been linked with a return to Serie A with the likes of AC Milan among those credited with an interest but Roma now appear in pole position to sign the 22-year-old.Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini reportedly flew to Madrid on Wednesday to finalise a temporary deal just days after they sold Miralem Pjanic to rivals Juventus.
Kovacic only started eight league games for Madrid last season and was forced to make a further 17 appearances from the substitutes’ bench. In that time he only registered two assists.
For more stats on Mateo Kovacic, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
