The Croatian midfielder was a prodigy in his youth, and recent success could lead to a battle for his services
Mateo Kovacic was just 16 years, six months and 14 days old when he made his official first-team debut at Dinamo Zagreb.
Fast-forward eight years and the Austria-born midfielder is plying his trade at one of the biggest clubs in the world, having joined Chelsea on a one-year loan deal from Real Madrid after previously enjoying a spell at Inter.
Madrid were reluctant to allow the 24-year-old to leave at first, but Kovacic’s desire to get more playing time and Maurizio Sarri’s insistence on bringing him to Stamford Bridge eventually saw the Champions League holders budge.