Overview
- Mateo Kovacic said he will stay at Manchester City after talks with new head coach Enzo Maresca and the club hierarchy, a decision he confirmed on Tuesday during the Asia pre-season tour.
- The 32-year-old enters the final year of his contract running to summer 2027 and told reporters the club told him they “count on” him, which removed immediate doubt over his short-term future.
- Kovacic played only nine times last season after two surgeries on an Achilles and ankle, so his fitness and form will determine whether he starts or acts as an experienced rotation option.
- Manchester City’s midfield picture is crowded: the club completed a club‑record £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson in July and Rodri is expected to miss the early weeks while recovering from back surgery, leaving selection and further transfers likely.
- Enzo Maresca is using pre-season friendlies and training in Asia to test tactics and assess players, and City’s next moves to trim or reshape the squad will hinge on returning World Cup players, medical updates and incoming offers for surplus midfielders.