Sporting CP want to make Joao Mario’s loan deal from Inter permanent, according to a Portuguese media report today.
Record report that the Liga NOS club would like to keep hold of the 28-year-old midfielder, who is on a season-long loan from the Nerazzurri.
Joao Mario’s contract with Inter expires at the end of next season and it seems certain he has no future under Antonio Conte.
The report did not offer details on a possible fee but said Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas was ready to make ‘an important investment’ to purchase Joao Mario.
Joao Mario’s wages could prove a buffer to any deal, with the midfielder earning €3 million annually, which is twice as much as Sporting CP’s wage bill allows.
He joined Inter from Sporting CP in the summer of 2016 as one of Suning’s first signings as owners, but things never really took off for Joao Mario in Milan with him very seldom performing to expectations.
In addition to this current loan spell, he has had loan stints with both West Ham United and Russian Premier League outfit Lokomotiv Moscow.
During his time with Inter, the Euro 2016 winner made 69 appearances, in which he scored four goals and provided 13 assists for his teammates.
