Former Inter director Ernesto Paolillo believes that Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta was trying to communicate to Paulo Dybala’s representatives the need for them to lower their demands with his words about the player yesterday.

Speaking to Italian broadcaster TMW Radio, Paolillo gave his interpretation of Marotta’s words in yesterday’s preseason kick-off press conference, suggesting that the CEO wanted to make clear that if Dybala and his entourage don’t make an effort to come down on their demands a deal may not happen.

Marotta hardly closed the door to a move for Dybala in yesterday’s press conference, but he also suggested that a move was not inevitable and that the Nerazzurri would be comfortable with missing out on signing the 28-year-old.

In the view of Paolillo, the executive’s real intention with the statement was to impress on the player and his representatives the urgency of finding an agreement on lower financial terms than they are currently seeking.

“I’m convinced that it was a message to the player’s representatives,” he said of Marotta’s statement.

“If there are unacceptable demands then one is forced to say certain things,” he continued. “And then there is still a traffic jam in the attacking positions.”

“I’m convinced that this is the case,” Paolillo stressed, “he hasn’t closed the door, but under certain conditions a deal can’t be done.”