Inter Milan would welcome Mateo Kovacic back with open arms if he fails to become a success at Real Madrid, "?Four Four Two reports. "?
Kovacic left the San Siro last summer in a €29m move but he has failed to break into Los Blancos' starting XI.
The hugely talented midfielder was restricted to making just eight league starts and he was left out of Zinedine Zidane's Champions League final match-day squad.
AC Milan and Juventus are willing to offer the 22-year-old an escape route but Inter's sporting director Piero Ausilio has confessed the club will 'always' be interested in their former starlet.
"If he has to come back to Italy, selfishly I hope it's not to AC Milan or Juve" Ausilio told Radio Umbra. "Inter would hate to see Mateo with another shirt because we are fond of him.
"We always have an interest in a guy like Kovacic, but we cannot say anything. I hope he continues on his path at Real Madrid, a team that has just won the Champions League.
"It's true that he did not play much, but Mateo, for his age, has many appearances in professional leagues such as La Liga and Serie A.
"If he is patient, he may become important for Real."
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Kovacic is currently gearing up for the European Championships with Croatia who face tough tests against Spain, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
If the mercurial midfielder impresses then his value will sky rocket but he could also stake a strong claim to be included in Real's first-team plans.