Julen Lopetegui dismisses Modric and Kovacic exits

Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has denied reports suggesting Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic will leave the club this summer.

Modric is rumoured to be attracting interest from Inter Milan, while Spanish outlet Marca claims Kovacic is set to join Chelsea on a season-long loan.

Kovacic, who has made 109 appearances over three seasons at the Bernabeu, has been linked with a move away from Madrid all summer after revealing he wants to leave and play more regularly elsewhere.

Both players were involved in Croatia’s journey to the World Cup final this summer. Modric, the captain of the national team, has played a crucial role in Madrid’s four recent Champions League titles and has featured 257 times for the La Liga giants since joining from Tottenham in 2012.

Despite reports of a potential exit, Lopetegui has dismissed the chances of either player leaving the Spanish capital this month.

“I have not seen anything from Kovacic that corresponds to the description of rebellion,” Lopetegui said, via Football Espana, in response to reports Kovacic had gone on strike.

“He has been training like normal with his teammates, I have not seen any issue with this and he is a player who I am extremely happy to have with the group.

“Modric? The president (Florentino Perez) has already spoken clearly about this – at Madrid we have no doubt that he will continue with us.”

At the World Cup in Russia, Modric won the Golden Ball – the award given to the player of the tournament. He has also won 14 trophies with Madrid to date.

Kovacic played just 21 times in La Liga last season, finding it difficult to displace Modric and Toni Kroos in central midfield.

The post Julen Lopetegui dismisses Modric and Kovacic exits appeared first on Squawka News.



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