Real Madrid present new signing Kovacic

Real Madrid on Wednesday presented new signing, Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic to the press and supporters in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The Spanish club are thought to have paid around 30 million euros (around 33 million US dollars) for the services of the 21-year-old who joins from Inter Milan and whose arrival was made official on Tuesday night.

A mainly defensive midfielder Kovacic has carried out several roles with Inter, also playing in the number 10 role, although in Madrid he is viewed as a long-term successor for Luka Modric, whose absence following a knee injury in the second half of last season was badly felt by Real Madrid.

At his presentation Kovacic said he had joined "the biggest club in the world," adding that he hoped to "be at his best," for his new club.

The midfielder impressed current Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez during his spell with Italian side Napoli over the past two years and he has signed a six-year-contract keeping him at the club until June 2021.

Kovacic' s arrival means there will have to be departures from the Real Madrid squad with Lucas Silva, who only arrived in January and Asier Illaramendi, who has struggled to impress since signing from Real Sociedad, the main candidates to leave. Endi