CHELSEA fans are in for a treat with the arrival of Mateo Kovacic.
Not because the Real Madrid loanee will help fix their midfield – but because he’s brought stunning wife Izabel with him.
Dubbed the ‘Croatian Shakira’ in their homeland because of her curly blonde locks, gorgeous Izabel isn’t just a pretty face.
Izabel, 24, is the founder and owner of a successful range of organic and eco-friendly baby products Lunilou.
Since 2015 she has run the company – which sells baby moccasins, pillows and other accessories – alongside her older sister, Ivana Lucic,
Izabel had studied economics at university in the Croatian capital Zagreb and were pushed to start the business because Ivana’s oldest daughter has sensitive skin.
She became a darling in the Spanish media during her time in Madrid, where she was frequently pictured supporting Mateo from the stands at the Bernabeu.
Izabel and Mateo met when they were teenagers – at church.
Mateo, who has Bosnian-Croat parents, was born in Austria and lived in that country until he was 12, before his family moved back to Zagreb.
The family are dedicated Catholics – the Chelsea star still goes church every Sunday even now – and the future midfield star was an altar boy as a teenager.
It was at the church of St Anthony of Padfua in Sesvete, 30 minutes outside of Zagreb, where Mateo first met Swiss-born Izabel.
Where he had been an altar boy, she had been a choir girl.
When the pair were married in June 2017, Mateo and Izabel returned to the same church for the ceremony.
A number of Real Madrid and Croatia team-mates, including Marcelo and Ivan Perisic, were part of the estimated 600 guests who were invited by the happy couple.
After official business was conducted at the church, the guests headed over to the 5-star Westin Hotel in central Zagreb.
The midfield star is said to have spent more than £250,000 on the wedding, according to local reports.
When Kovacic’s loan move to Chelsea was announced, Blues fans were quick to flood Izabel’s social media with positive comments.
She posted a picture of herself in London.
One fan commented: “London looks even more stunning with you in it.”
A disappointed Real Madrid fan said: “Please come back asap to Madrid.”
