Three sales to keep one. This is the strategy of Inter, which according to TuttoSport, would include the sales of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Joao Mario and Marcelo Brozovic in order to keep Rafinha. Two are no longer part of the squad, but they’re away on loans with options to buy and could return to Milan before being sold outright.
The French midfielder went to Valencia in the Summer with an option to buy of 25 million euros which needs to be exercised before May 31st. Over the season, he’s put in some exceptional performances and Valencia seem to be convinced and will mostly likely trigger their option. Combined with the fact that Kondogbia himself is said to be enjoying life back in Spain, it’s likely to all go through. The Nerazzurri will be disappointed that could not get a higher price, but initial loan payment of around 6 million, plus the savings on his salary, of 7 million per year (contract renewed before his departure to 2021), helped the 2017-18 balance sheet a lot and so in total, Inter are not losing too much.
Joao Mario went to West Ham also on loan without a obligation fee. Inter paid 40 million euros for him two Summers ago and will hope that he does well enough in England to at least get a minimum offer of 30 million euros, or more if he performs at the World Cup with Portugal, similarly to when he won the EUROs in 2016.
Finally, the Croatian, Brozovic has a release clause of 50 million euros, which is widely considered an unthinkable sum for anyone to pay for a player of his standard. However the Nerazzurri would also be willing to let him go, if he attracts enough interest in the World Cup to raise the price a little. Inter could settle for 20 million euros, depending hon his performances in Russia, combined with savings in budget of around 3 million for his salary.
In order to keep Rafinha, Inter will need 35 million euros (plus 3 million in bonuses) to trigger their right to redeem clause.
