Txiki Begiristain, the director of football at Manchester City, has explained why the club chose to acquire Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea this summer.

On Tuesday, the Premier League champions officially announced Kovacic’s transfer.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of City, has been looking to add to their midfield after they were unable to get Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid last month.

Captain Ilkay Gundogan has also completed a free transfer to Barcelona on Monday.

Begiristain, speaking at Kovacic’s unveiling, said:

“He can play as a 6 or an 8, has plenty of experience at top level clubs and he understands the Premier League.

“It was a very simple decision to bring him to City because he has the tactical and technical qualities we are looking for in a midfielder.

“He is someone we have monitored for a very long time and always we were impressed whenever we watched him.”