Inter’s €75 million deal to sign Romelu Lukaku is proof of Suning’s huge ambitions for the club, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Belgian striker will officially join the Nerazzurri later today after completing a medical and putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.
Manchester United accepted an offer yesterday worth €65 million up front and €10 million in bonuses, along with a 5% cut of any future fee.
“The Zhang family have proved with the Lukaku transfer that this summer is a launchpad for Inter’s ambitions, as they change their skin in a bid to return to the top,” the paper said this morning.
“It was a difficult set of negotiations yesterday, with a few moments of tension when it came to discussing how Inter would structure their payment, but then they made their final offer and United listened to them.”
Talks began at 1.30pm in London yesterday as Lukaku’s agent Federico Pastorello met United’s transfer officials.
Beppe Marotta, Piero Ausilio and Steven Zhang joined them via a conference call from Inter’s offices in Milan and eventually a deal was reached.
Lukaku’s insistence to join Inter ultimately persuaded United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to lower his infamous €83 million asking price.
The 26-year-old acted with discretion towards his club throughout the summer but eventually he put his foot down this week, deserting United’s training and vowing to wait in Belgium until his future was sorted.
United fined Lukaku €400,000 for failing to report back and this issue was brought up during yesterday’s final negotiations.
Ultimately it matters little for Inter, though, who now have the striker Antonio Conte so badly wanted.
