SPAL midfielder Mohamed Fares, who is currently injured with a cruciate ligament rupture, was close to joining the Nerazzurri before arriving at the Ferrara based club, according to a report from Italian media outlet FcInterNews.
The report details how the 23-year-old’s agent, Mino Raiola, had reached an agreement for the Algerian to join the Nerazzurri in July on a five-year contract with a salary of €1.3 million net per season. The deal was due to be finalised after the African Cup of Nations, which Fares’ nation won.
However, Fares suffered an ACL tear following the end of the tournament, causing the deal to collapse. SPAL then decided to spend around €12 million for the player, the report continues, and the club are still waiting for him to make his debut, likely to be in January.
The injury forced the Nerazzurri to acquire Cristiano Biraghi on loan from Fiorentina instead, sending Dalbert the other way. If Biraghi fails to convince the Nerazzurri’s management this season, the club may look to acquire Fares again next summer, the report adds.
