Torino striker Andrea Belotti was used as a pawn by Inter in their pursuit of Lazio’s Joaquin Correa, according to Italian media.
This is the claim of Turin-based newspaper La Stampa, who suggest that the Granata captain will likely stay with his club as he will be unable to seek a move away after having been distracted by the Nerazzurri’s interest in him when in reality the club were never interest in him.
Belotti is out of contract with his club next summer, and having not signed an extension yet he is seen as on the market and the Granata were willing to part with him this summer for a fee rather than lose him as a free agent at the end of his current deal.
The Nerazzurri reportedly had an agreement in principle with Torino to sign Belotti for €20 million plus add-ons, and personal terms agreed with the player, who they considered their backup option should they prove unable to sign Correa.
However, in the past couple days negotiations have progressed quickly for Correa whose signing appears to be all but wrapped up.
This means that Inter will not sign Belotti, who is now unlikely to move away from his current club given the limited amount of time left in the transfer window, despite reported interest from London duo Arsenal and Tottenham.
For this reason, La Stampa claim that the 27-year-old was “deluded and then left behind” by the Nerazzurri during the transfer saga.
