Inter president Steven Zhang has asked the Nerazzurri’s management to see if there is a real possibility to bring Lionel Messi to Milan next summer, according to a report from Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset aired moments ago.
The report details how recent rumors have seen the 33-year-old Argentine star linked with a move to the Nerazzurri, due to his unhappiness at Barcelona’s management and the fact that his father recently purchased a home in the Lombardy capital.
Despite yesterday’s comments by CEO Beppe Marotta and coach Antonio Conte that signing Messi was only “fantasy football”, Zhang is serious.
Inter vice president Javier Zanetti is in charge of sounding out the operation, the report notes, and Messi’s €50 million salary doesn’t frighten the Chinese owners, who believe that it would be worth it due to sponsors, marketing and the sale of shirts.
In regard to Alexis Sanchez, Inter are working on permanently signing the 31-year-old Chilean, the report highlights, and are proposing a swap deal involving Ivan Perisic, who will return from Bayern Munich. Sanchez’s wages would drop to €7.5 million net per season on a three-year contract.
Finally, the Nerazzurri are ready to present a new contract to Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez, the report suggests, offering him a five-year contract worth around €5 million net plus add-ons per season, although in Spain they believe that he will sign with Barcelona.
