Welcome Mateo Kovacic | Signing confirmed on a four-year deal

[Brad mcfc]

Seems like a good character. Think he will surprise some people.

Nice buy.

 

[KS55]

I was unsure of this, thinking that at 29 he would have no resale value. I withdraw all my doubts: at the fee quoted he is cheap as chips for such a good player. Well done Txiki.

 

[Brunswick Blue]

At 29 I'd say he's not a long term addition.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

At 29 I'd say he's not a long term addition.

Some of these Croatian internationals play well into their late 30s. I think we will get a good 3 years out of Kovacic and possibly longer.

Competition for places in our midfield is tough but the Croatian National team has been another of the best midfields in the world in recent years and Kovacic has managed 95 caps IIRC

 

[CarlosTevez'sEnglishTutor]

Some of these Croatian internationals play well into their late 30s. I think we will get a good 3 years out of Kovacic and possibly longer.

Completion for places in our midfield is tough but the Croatian National team has been another of the best midfields in the world in recent years and Kovacic has managed 95 caps IIRC

Croatians are fit as fleas, Kovacic will play well into his 30s if he avoids a bad injury.

 

[AliAdel]

His inside city video got private all of a sudden, was there anything too revealing in it that would require such a thing?

I was literally 2 mins in watching when it just stopped with an error.

 

[Blue Smarties]

His inside city video got private all of a sudden, was there anything too revealing in it that would require such a thing?

I was literally 2 mins watching when it just stopped with an error.

He got his wang out and helicoptered it.

 

[Blue Coop]

At 29 I'd say he's not a long term addition.

Fernandinho joined at 28 and managed 383 appearances! These lads nowadays look after themselves a lot more than footballers used to. I’d say we can get 3-4 top years out of him at least, if he’s got the talent for it.

 

[Vicious111]

Excellent business. Experienced, reliable and strong character that could bring solid leadership values into the dressing room.

Would have preferred to keep Gundo, but I can't complain when this is the guy who is replacing him.

 

[Dirty Harry]

At 29 I'd say he's not a long term addition.

Modrić is still playing at the highest level at 37 mate.
Having good genetics is a massive thing, but there’s also quite a few studies out there that show whilst physically, we do decline after around 30, with footballers, the clever ones are able to make subtle changes to their game and adapt, which enable them to carry on for much longer (obviously as long as they still look after themselves physically).