Man City reassure Kovacic amid Italian suitors

Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic says the club "count on me" despite rumours of a move this summer, after playing only nine times last season because of Achilles and ankle injuries. The comment appeared in a report dated Hong KongPublished14 minutes ago and referenced a Getty ImagesImage caption showing Kovacic on the Etihad pitch.

Kovacic featured for 45 minutes in Saturday's friendly against Inter, a match that gave him a chance to deputise while Rodri recovers from back surgery. He missed the majority of the campaign with injury, limiting his league tally to nine appearances.

Reports suggest Serie A sides Juventus and former club Inter Milan are interested in taking the Croatia international back to Italy. The interest highlights the midfielder's reputation despite his limited game time at Manchester City.

The 32‑year‑old has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to be offered a new deal. This contractual situation fuels speculation about a possible summer exit.

New boss Enzo Maresca said, "Mateo is our player, until the day he is here I will try all my best. It is my duty to try to help players give their best. If he is here I am happy and we will continue to work with him." The manager's remarks were made after the friendly against Inter.

Kovacic replied, "I didn't feel the question marks from them. I spoke with them, it was that they count on me, which was important for me to hear that from them. And now, like I said, for the players it's always on you to show your best version, because if you are playing good, the manager will put you first." His confidence underscores his desire to prove his worth.

Midfield competition at City is fierce, with Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez and new club‑record signing Elliot Anderson all vying for starting spots. Anderson arrived for £116m from Nottingham Forest after a World Cup semi‑final run with England.

Kovacic added that the Premier League is "the best league and the best players are here," citing the quality of midfielders across clubs such as Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes and Aston Villa's ranks. He believes the league's depth benefits his own development.