Real Madrid shut the door to Kovacic exit Real Madrid Contract until 2021 and high release clause

There is doubt surrounding Mateo Kovacic's future after the player gave an interview in which he expressed his desire to leave Real Madrid.

Los Blancos are not prepared to give in and allow him to leave though, with a contract in force until 2021 and a release clause set at 300 million euros.

The figure rose last year after the cub moved to tie down many first team players against big money bids from elsewhere.

At such a high price, any side who would want to sign Kovacic would be left with no choice but to negotiate with Florentino Perez.

For several months now there has been uncertainty surrounding Kovacic, with the player unhappy with his lack of game time.

Zinedine Zidane was unable to find a way to put him into a side which has won the Champions League three seasons in a row.

Even more high profile players like Gareth Bale, Isco and Karim Benzema have had their own moments of discontent and frustration surrounding the same issue.

In 2017/18, the Croatian played 36 games, only three less than in 2016/17 when Zidane used a more extreme rotation policy and Kovacic was available all season.

Having missed 14 games during that time, his statistics could have been even more impressive had he not been side-lined.

Real Madrid will not make it easy for Kovacic to find a way out of the club, having signed for 30 million euros in 2015 from Internazionale,

the Italians forced to sell due to Financial Fair Play.

Rafa Benitez was in charge at the time but barely had a chance to deploy his new signing until he was replaced by Zidane.

He has never been a regular in the side with Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos having made the midfield their own.

Despite not being a starter for Croatia in Russia either, he has played in both group games to date as a substitute, and it was from Russia that Kovacic spoke to MARCA to reveal his desire to leave.

Florentino Perez does not allow 24-year-old's with such potential to leave the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu and he believes that he has plenty to offer to Julen Lopetegui at present as well as in the future.

He is not the first player to demand more game time and it won't be a surprise to anyone that there was interest in him last summer, but Real Madrid persuaded him to stay and showed understanding to his situation.

The club remain hopeful that he will reflect on the scenario and change his mind.

Those in charge at the Bernabeu see Kovacic as a long term replacement for Luka Modric, his international team-mate, with many aware that the 32-year-old won't have long left at the very top of his game.

Christian Eriksen of Tottenham is an alternative, but Kovacic is already in place and would be the logical replacement if Julen Lopetegui can convince him to stay.