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    • Barcelona-Real Madrid: Former Inter flop Kovacic starts Clasico clash

    Barcelona-Real Madrid: Former Inter flop Kovacic starts Clasico clash

    Zinedine Zidane has picked Mateo Kovacic to start today’s Barcelona-Real Madrid clash. The Croatian midfielder had struggled to live up to expectations during his two-year and a half spell at Inter and did not impress for Real Madrid either this past season.

    With Casemiro out of action with a fibula shaft fracture, however, Zinedine Zidane has been using the former Inter flop to replace the Brazilian midfielder over the last two months.

    Kovacic is replaying Zinedie Zidane’s trust with some stunning performances. The 22-year-old playmaker has one goal in 17 appearances so far this season and has been making Real Madrid’s starting XI in the last 12 games in all competitions.

    The Croatia International moved to Real Madrid for € 30 in summer 2015. After his switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, the player claimed that his bad relationship with former Inter boss Roberto Mancini played a key role in his decision to swap Inter with the Merengues.

    ​Juventus and AC Milan had been linked with signing Kovacic last summer, but given his recent performances with the LaLiga giants, his departure from Real Madrid is highly unlikely at the moment. The former Inter flop has now become one of Real Madrid’s stars.
     

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