Inter target Federico Chiesa’s future is the subject of a chess match between Fiorentina’s current owners and their new prospective buyers.

The Tuscan club is due to change hands soon when the Della Valle family sell it to American billionaire Rocco Commisso, for a fee rumoured to be in the region of €220 million.

Chiesa had an agreement with the Della Valle’s stipulating he would have freedom to choose his next destination this summer, having agreed to remain in Florence last year.

However, it remains to be seen whether Commisso will be willing to make the sale of the club’s most important player his first act as owner.

The Della Valles released an official statement yesterday stating Chiesa will not leave Fiorentina this summer, but it was more an attempt to put pressure on Commisso than to tell the truth.

“Some supporters interpreted the statement as a sign of the Della Valle family’s intention to leave the club with a populist and conciliatory gesture [keeping hold of Chiesa],” La Repubblica said today.

“For others, though, the statement was a way of reminding Commisso he will have to pay every last cent of their €220 million asking price to buy the club – and that if he wishes to recoup some of that money by selling Chiesa, it will be his decision and his alone.

“Commisso is in a tricky position now: he will have to decide whether to hold firm and endear himself to Fiorentina’s supporters, or to grant the player’s wish to move on.”

Inter and Juventus are the two clubs most likely to sign Chiesa this summer, who has already been tempted with a €5 million per season offer via an international agent.