Mateo Kovačić has not forgotten Inter, and speculation over a return to San Siro has been rekindled after the Croatian caught up with old friends during Manchester City’s visit to face the Nerazzurri.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, the contact came on the fringes of the two sides’ pre-season friendly in Hong Kong.
Inter themselves posted a video on social media showing the 32-year-old deep in conversation with compatriot Petar Sučić and warmly greeting the likes of Federico Dimarco and assistant coach Aleksandar Kolarov, a reunion that has only fuelled talk of a possible homecoming.
Inter need midfield exits before any Kovačić return
Those whispers are not new. In recent weeks it emerged that Kovačić’s entourage had offered him to the Inter hierarchy, who made clear that departures would be required before any deal could be considered.
Sales such as those of Kristjan Asllani and Davide Frattesi have been earmarked, but neither has yet been completed, meaning there is currently no room to bring the midfielder back. With almost a month of the window still to run, however, that space could yet open up.
A return would reunite Kovačić with the club where he made his name in Europe. The Croatian spent two seasons at Inter between 2013 and 2015, having been signed from Dinamo Zagreb for €11m, before being sold to Real Madrid for €38m, a deal that handed the Nerazzurri a healthy profit.
Now in the final year of his City contract, he is seeking clarity on his future, and Milan holds obvious appeal.
