Manchester City give first-team player green light for Atletico Madrid move as Pep Guardiola identifies preferred replacement | OneFootball

Mateo Kovacic has been given the go-ahead to leave Manchester City at the end of the season amid interest from Spain, as per a new report.

Kovacic is among several Manchester City first-team players expected to leave the reigning Premier League champions in the summer.

The 30-year-old – who has two years left on his current deal after joining City from Chelsea in 2023 – has clocked 2,142 minutes over 33 outings in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side this season.

In the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri – who is nearing a return to first-team action after stepping up recovery following an ACL tear suffered in September – Kovacic has been Guardiola’s preferred option in the number six position.

A four-time Champions League winner – thrice with Real Madrid and once with Chelsea against Manchester City in 2021 – Kovacic has done well as backup to Rodri this term but has received criticism for a few nervy moments in games, particularly against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League first-leg.

Guardiola is expected to make a series of changes to his squad ahead of the 2025-26 season to get Manchester City back challenging domestically and in Europe next term.

The Blues are locked in a race for Champions League qualification as they sit in fifth-place in the Premier League table with nine games to go.

As per a new report by Team Talk, Manchester City have paved the way for Kovacic to leave the club this summer amid interest from Atletico Madrid, who have initiated talks with the Croatian’s camp.

Diego Simeone is keen to bring Kovacic to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, where he would link up with ex-Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez should he join the La Liga club this summer.

Guardiola is also reported to have identified Atalanta midfielder Ederson as his preferred replacement for Kovacic, who could be joined by all of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Ederson Moraes through the Manchester City exit door when the season ends.