Sporting CP have every intention of re-signing Joao Mario on a permanent deal from Inter, according to a report in Portugal today.
O Jogo confirmed the Liga NOS leaders’ president Frederico Varandas and head coach Ruben Amorim want to keep the midfielder once his season-long loan ends in June.
Inter want €10 million for Joao Mario and this asking price does not concern Sporting CP, provided they can spread the fee across several instalments.
The real obstacle to any deal at present is the 28-year-old’s salary, which exceeds the Portuguese club’s wage bill.
Joao Mario earns €2.7 million annually in his Inter contract which expires in the summer of 2022, but Sporting CP have only been covering €1 million of that for his loan move this season.
The club’s absolute limit for their top-earning players is €1 million, regardless of add-ons or their performances.
The report suggested Sporting CP could spread Joao Mario’s salary over multiple seasons to get round the problem, just as they are hoping to do with Inter’s €10 million asking price.
The midfielder has made 26 appearances in all competitions this season and is eager to re-join the club he swapped for Inter in 2016.
