Parma sporting director Marcello Carli discussed Inter’s interest in 33-year-old Ivorian forward Gervinho in an interview with Italian media outlet Parmalive.com earlier today.
“It’s a peculiar situation, It’s a special situation. Parma were convinced they had already sold him last year, so much so that they signed Caprari and invested a significant sum in the January market.
“Gervinho had decided that his experience was over and then he didn’t reach an agreement with the other club. We’ll have to understand his will.”
He commented on the former Arsenal and Lille forward’s current hamstring injury and his work in training this season.
“I can see that he is calm and serene, it’s a pity he didn’t come to Crotone but he had an injury that he picked up when he sprinted in the game against Juve.
“Gervinho is training well, so far he hasn’t given any signs, but we don’t know what’ll happen in a fortnight’s time.”
He highlighted how the Emilian club will need a replacement lined up before they agree to sell Gervinho.
“We must be careful selling players who can help us avoid relegation. The market is simple, there must be the right combination of offer, the player’s will and ideas on how to replace this player.
“You can’t get rid of him if you can’t replace him. It will be difficult for Parma to deprive themselves of some.”
Finally, Carli spoke about Parma’s need to sign a forward. The club have been linked with a move for Inter forward Andrea Pinamonti, who has hardly featured under Antonio Conte this season.
“We are not talking about the budget, we need to understand if we will look for players who are ready or not. We’re talking about it but I’ll keep that between me and the president. I think it’s easy to understand what would be the easiest solution to follow.
“The attack is the department that needs more support and more choices at the moment. Parma need energy, individual solutions. Crotone beat us, I have great respect for them, but two plays by a player were decisive, it’s not that they destroyed us.”
Parma are currently 16th in the Serie A table after 14 games, sitting on 12 points, two above relegation battlers Genoa.
Inter are currently looking for a new fourth forward to sign in the upcoming January transfer window, as Conte is not convinced by the performances of Pinamonti.
The 33-year-old Gervinho has been linked with a move to Milan, in a possible swap deal with Pinamonti.
The former Arsenal and Lillie forward has made 12 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 943 minutes.
In that time, he has scored four goals and provided one assist.
