Inter president Steven Zhang has given club management a mandate to work out the feasibility of a potential deal for Barcelona captain Lionel Messi according to a report from Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, which was aired a short time ago.
Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti, who played alongside Messi at national team level, will be tasked with testing the waters to understand if Messi has any intention of leaving Barcelona at the end of next season, when his contract expires.
Following recent events and after new contract talks were stopped, some legitimate doubts as to Lionel Messi staying in Catalonia with Barcelona has emerged, according to the report.
The report goes on to explain that Inter could make a saving on Messi’s annual wages due to the Italian tax laws and it also adds that club owners Suning are not worried by his current €50 million net annual pay packet.
The report concludes that Messi could in fact tell compatriot Lautaro Martinez to wait for him in Milan rather than join him in Barcelona.