Man City respond to Cristiano Ronaldo transfer plea – sources
Man City and Pep Guardiola will be unwilling to sell midfielder Mateo Kovacic in the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.
Al Nassr are reportedly targeting the 30-year-old ahead of the winter window after failing to land him in the summer.
According to CBS Sports (5 September), Cristiano Ronaldo has personally asked his club to sign Kovacic and they are preparing a salary package worth almost £800,000-a-week.
But sources say the Croatia international is not expendable at City despite the return of Ilkay Gundogan.
It is believed manager Guardiola is a “big fan” of the four-time Champions League winner.
Kovacic has stepped up at the start of the 2024-25 campaign in the absence of Rodri, who continues to recover after winning the European Championships in June.
Man City to reject Kovacic offers from Saudi giants Al Nassr
The midfielder has started every game so far this term, scoring once.
He joined City last summer (2023) and won the Premier League in his first season at the club, making 46 appearances across all competitions and starting in 30 of those outings.
Kovacic is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027.
The Premier League winners have sold several first-team stars to the Saudi Pro League in the past, including Joao Cancelo, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte.
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