Former Barcelona and AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida has dismissed reports which have suggested that Lionel Messi could be headed to Inter in the future.
In the past few days there have been a lot of reports suggesting that the multi-time world player of the year could join the Nerazzurri if he decides to leave Barcelona, where he has spent his entire career, but Braida believes it is sheer fantasy talk.
“I find it hard to imagine him going away from Barcelona. At Barcelona he is the undisputed king, he arrived as a kid and everyone loves him. In my opinion, such talk is pure utopia,” he remarked in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, which appeared in today’s print edition.
“In football you can never say never however I cannot find a reason for a possible farewell. He is a wonderful person and earns a very important sum of money. He and Barcelona are perfect together.”
Braida then went on to comment on the continued links between Barcelona and Inter striker Lautaro Martinez and insisted that Inter cannot let the highly rated 22-year-old go.
The Argentine national team forward is seemingly one of Barcelona’s top transfer targets for the Summer but Braida believes that Inter should not give in to any offer that may arrive from the reigning Spanish champions who are said to be willing to offer a considerable cash sum plus a few players.
“If Inter wants to win, they must absolutely not deprive themselves of him. Lautaro is a complete striker and very strong. They absolutely need to keep him.
“He is very young and represents the future. If Inter want to aim for the top, and therefore to raise some trophies, they must build the team starting from him.”
