Inter’s hopes of signing Papu Gomez in January have been dealt a huge blow with Atalanta refusing to negotiate with any direct rivals in Serie A, according to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio.
Atalanta wish to sort Gomez’s future definitively in the next few days, with the forward completely frozen out in Bergamo after falling out with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
Gomez’s agent is due to have fresh talks with the Bergamaschi but the Argentine’s hopes of joining the Nerazzurri are all but over because, as explained by Di Marzio in a report on his site, Atalanta do not want to reinforce any of their competitors for Champions League qualification.
The 32-year-old would be allowed to join a club further down the Serie A table – or a team outside Italy – should a suitable offer arrive, but he is not prepared to consider a move to mid-table sides at present.
Inter have been heavily linked with a move for Gomez in the January transfer window as they seek reinforcements in attack for Antonio Conte.
It seems the Nerazzurri will have to look elsewhere if they are to recruit an understudy for Romelu Lukaku, although they cannot spend any money this month until they sell players anyway.
