Mateo Kovacic has delivered a message of confidence amid persistent speculation over his Manchester City future, insisting that the club still “count on me” despite reports suggesting he could leave the Etihad Stadium this summer. The Croatian midfielder finds himself at an interesting crossroads as new manager Enzo Maresca reshapes City’s midfield following Pep Guardiola’s departure. Reports have linked Kovacic with a possible exit, while City are simultaneously investing heavily in new midfield options, including the British-record signing of Elliot Anderson.
Kovacic Stands Firm While City Rebuild Their Midfield
Kovacic’s confidence comes at a particularly intriguing moment. The 32-year-old endured a difficult 2025-26 campaign because of injury, making only nine appearances across all competitions according to reports, while his contract is understood to run until June 2027. That combination has fuelled speculation that City could listen to offers rather than risk losing the midfielder later for a reduced fee.
Yet the midfielder’s message suggests that he does not regard himself as a forgotten man in Maresca’s new City project. After joining City from Chelsea in 2023, Kovacic has provided experience and versatility in midfield, and his relationship with Maresca is an interesting subplot because the Italian previously worked within City’s coaching structure before eventually succeeding Guardiola. In other words, Kovacic may have one important advantage: the new manager already knows exactly what he can do.
City’s Transfer Plans Turn the Heat Up
The problem, from Kovacic’s perspective, is that Manchester City are not behaving like a club satisfied with standing still. City have agreed a reported £116m deal for Elliot Anderson and have also pursued teenage Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, while reports indicate that several midfielders could be vulnerable as Maresca puts his own stamp on the squad. Kovacic has consequently become part of a much bigger question about who belongs in City’s next midfield generation.
And that is where the summer transfer window becomes wonderfully cruel. A player can be told that the club counts on him, while the recruitment department is simultaneously counting how many midfielders it can fit into one squad. Recent reporting has identified Kovacic among the City players whose futures could be uncertain, alongside names such as Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González and Savinho. Meanwhile, City are also trying to resolve Rodri’s future amid interest from Real Madrid.
For Kovacic, then, the message is simple but the situation is not: Manchester City count on me — but do they count on me enough? That is the question the Croatian’s words cannot completely answer while transfer rumours continue to swirl around the Etihad. With Maresca beginning the post-Guardiola era and City’s midfield undergoing significant reconstruction, Kovacic’s future could become one of the summer’s more intriguing stories. OGM News FC will continue to watch the situation closely, because in football, a player can be “staying” right up until somebody sends the transfer announcement.
