Joao Mario: “I’d Rather Stay At Lokomotiv Moscow Than Go Back To Inter”

Joao Mario has admitted that he would prefer to remain with loan club Lokomotiv Moscow past the end of this season over returning to Inter.

“I accepted a move to Russia quite quickly. At that time, I was in Italy and I knew about Inter’s position,” he explained in an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport 24.

“If it depended on me, I would still choose Lokomotiv, to be honest. I like the club, the city. So, yes, I’d rather stay here than go back to Inter.

“I was looking for a team that played in the Champions League and they were really interested in me. Those were the two main reasons for my move and the important criteria that had to be there. I realised that I had to play to get to Euro 2020.

“It made no sense to leave Inter for another team where I wouldn’t play, or somewhere it wasn’t clear what my role would be.”

He concluded: “You never know what will happen next. I hope that Lokomotiv will be able to get me, we will sit down and agree on everything.”