Mateo Kovacic has sung the praises of Pep Guardiola and the opportunities on offer at Manchester City after completing his move from Chelsea.
The Croatian has headed to the Etihad for an initial £25m as the Premier League champions look to bolster their options following the departure of Ilkay Gundogan, their talismanic captain. Bernardo Silva could also leave meaning the City hierarchy must bring in quality talent to remain on top of the game.
Guardiola has just led his team to the treble but will want to continue his recent dominance and the capture of Kovacic will help with that. Other new faces are expected with Declan Rice very much on their radar as the West Ham star eyes his next move.
Arsenal are City's main rivals for the England midfielder with the Gunners lodging a £100m bid - the Manchester outfit have not yet gone that high. Rice though could be lured by the pull of playing for Guardiola in a team that has received huge plaudits.
It clearly played a factor for Kovacic, who is adamant he can improve further under the Catalan's guidance. He said: "Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are – for me, they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there.
"To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer. I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me."
Rice has made no secret of his desire to challenge himself as he eyes the Champions League for the first time. He's been the leading light for the Hammers, but will be surrounded by quality players at his next club, where expectations will be significantly higher than he's been used to.
The 24-year-old has thrived on the international stage with England, putting it stellar performances at the Euros and the World Cup, but he is wary that he only gets one career and wants to test himself against the best.
He said back in December: “I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
