Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio has strongly rejected a move for Barcelona’s displaced Lionel Messi this summer.
The angry Argentine stunned the football world via fax last week, as he warned Barca’s hierarchy of his desire to leave the club before the start of the 2020/21 campaign, announcing that he would will activate a clause to unilaterally terminate its contract.
Messi stunned the football world last Tuesday / Poll / Getty Images
However, his intended departure is set to be an incredibly complicated one, with La Liga insisting Messi will not be able to leave Catalonia until his €700m release clause is met. It doesn’t look like the 33-year-old will be able to get out on a free transfer.
Despite this, Inter have emerged as one of a number of clubs with a rumored interest in snapping up the Barcelona great, although an already unlikely move to the Nerazzurri has been firmly ruled out by sporting director Ausilio.
“We are not going to sign Leo Messi. I don’t even know where these crazy rumors are coming from,” he told Sky Sports Italia.
Ausilio was similarly dismissive of a potential move for Chelsea’s N’Golo Kanté: “No chance, he’s not a target.
“Our transfer market will be smart and it will be done with a lot of focus. It will be planned through our sales.”
The thought of a possible transfer to Barcelona has had a negative impact on Lautaro’s form after the restart / Poll / Getty Images
Speaking of which, much has been made of Lautaro Martinez’s future over the spring and summer, with El Toro linked with a €111m switch to Barcelona.
Ausilio, however, is confident that Lautaro will remain at Milan for next season, remarking: “We never started formal negotiations with Barcelona for Lautaro Martinez. The day after the release clause expired we considered it out of the market. It ended”.
Lautaro’s arrival is a huge boost for Antonio Conte, who has guided Inter to second place in Serie A – just one point behind champions Juventus – and a Europa League final in his first season at the helm. I, and the Nerazzurri will be sure to take over the Bianconeri’s dominance. Next time in the last decade of calcium.
Clever work in the transfer market will be key, though, and Inter look set to welcome two more additions following the arrival of Achraf Hakimi earlier this summer.
Arturo Vidal’s move to Inter this summer looks inevitable / Rafael Marchante / Getty Images
Ausilio confirmed interest and talks for a pair of well-documented Nerazzurri targets.
“We definitely like Arturo Vidal. But he’s a Barcelona player at the moment. If they let him go under the right circumstances, we’ll consider signing him. I can confirm that we’ve signed Aleksandar Kolorov from Roma. are in talks to sign. There are good prospects,” he added.