Manchester City are reportedly eyeing a move for Dinamo Zagreb’s young sensation Ante Ćorić as Pep Guardiola continues to bring in more starlets to the Etihad Stadium this summer. The 20-year-old Croatian international has been one of the revelations in the Croatian domestic league 1.HNL over the past two seasons catching the attention of a lot of clubs.
The Citizens have been a long-term admirer of the youngster and had even tried to land him last summer, but a failed meeting with his representative meant no progress was expected thereof. However, the player’s agent has now confirmed that City hasn’t moved on and have enquired about him this summer.
Andyjem Barom of Doyen Sports, who is also his agent said to Sportske Novosti, “Here I’ll tell you Manchester City are still in the game… City will work on the transfers they want most first, and if they have any money left from their budget… they can go for Ćorić…”
It is clear that the 20-year-old is highly unlikely to get a break in the first team given the players City have in their line-up at the moment. Toppling over the likes of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho is a mammoth task for the best of starlets, and Guardiola sees Coric more as an understudy if he decides to bring him.
The Zagreb-born midfielder has played 36 times for the Croatian giants last season, scoring eight goals and assisting five times in the process. His superior technical prowess and terrific vision from deep in midfield makes him way mature than his age and could be the perfect candidate to adapt the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s free-flowing playing style.
Croatia has produced some of the footballing world’s best feet of late in Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, Alen Halilovic, Mateo Kovacic and more, and Coric is surely the next. A central midfielder by nature, he can also play on the flanks and his tremendous pace on and off the ball makes him a cherished player to have on one’s side.
An academy product of NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac, Dinamo Zagreb picked him up quite early when he was only 9-year-old. His progress went well and loan stints with underage sides of Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg turned him into a complete midfielder.
Even without Guardiola at the helm, City have remained true to their aim of bringing up young talents like Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Marlos Moreno. Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus joined last season and Coric’s addition will only make their future stronger.
