Barcelona is planning the unthinkable with their arch rivals Real Madrid, as they want to embark on one of the most shocking moves of the summer by making a bid for Los Blancos Midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
It hasn’t happened since Luis Figo in 2000. It is one ofthe fiercest rivalries in European football. Yet Barcelona is trying to do make a deal with Real Madrid.
The reports from Spain claim that it is not out of the question either. While Figo made the move to the Bernabeu the last player to move the other direction was outgoing Barca manager Luis Enrique in 1995. It is a rarity but not impossible.
Mateo Kovacic has found it hard to break into the Real Madrid first team and has been reduced to bench role especially under the tutelage of Zinedine Zidane.
The Croat had just 16 starts in 2016/17, due to the fact that Zinedine Zidane prefers Casemiro in the midfielder in his formation.
He was already behind international teammate Luka Modric and German star Toni Kroos.
The Croatian arrived from Inter Milan when Rafael Benítez was the Los Blancos head coach before Zidane was appointed, it is evident that he doesn't really figure into Zidane's plan and the latest news is that Barcelona is monitoring the development.
Kovacic is the latest midfield name to be connected to Barcelona this off-season. Primary target Marco Verratti looks set to stay in Paris as PSG are unwilling to sell to the club that knocked them out of the Champions League.
Brazilian midfielder Paulinho is also a surprise option.
