Mateo Kovacic says Manchester City have told him they count on him, and that puts his future in a more grounded place than the summer noise suggested. He is 32, in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, and coming off a season that barely got going because of Achilles and ankle injuries. He played only 9 times last season.

City's message to Kovacic

Kovacic gave a pretty clear reading of where things stand. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "I didn't feel the question marks from them. I spoke with them, it was that they count on me, which was important for me to hear that from them."

That is not a guarantee of long-term security, because the same conversation sits alongside a simple football reality. Kovacic said: "And now, like I said, for the players it's always on you to show your best version, because if you are playing good, the manager will put you first."

The public message from City is reassurance. The actual test is whether Kovacic can turn that into starts after a season that produced just 1 goal involvement and a 6.83 rating.

Rodri's absence and the midfield opening

There is also a more obvious route into the team. Rodri is unlikely to be fit for the first part of the campaign after back surgery, and Kovacic does not sound like someone ducking the opportunity. He said: "I've played together with Rodri and without him as well. So with him not being here now I can of course fill that spot, but let's see when he comes back."

That does not mean the job is his. It does mean the opening is real, and City have already added Elliot Anderson, who joined for £116m from Nottingham Forest and played all 38 Premier League games last season. His arrival points to a midfield group that is still being shaped, not one with every answer settled.

Kovacic's own position is the more immediate story. City say they count on him. His body has not always allowed him to answer that trust, and the first part of this season is where he has to do it again.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →