Inter Sporting Director Piero Ausilio has made clear that the Nerazzurri have made a significant contract extension offer to defender Milan Skriniar.
Speaking whilst receiving the Maestrelli Prize, as reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, the Nerazzurri executive answered questions about the contract extensions with Skriniar as well as other matters related to Inter.
Inter have been in talks with Skriniar and his representatives regarding a possible contract extension for some weeks now.
It has been reported that agreeing a new deal with the 27-year-old is a major priority for the Nerazzurri given his importance to the team and the fact that they would not want to risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.
For his part, Ausilio does not hide the fact that the club have made a big offer to Skriniar to convince him to commit his future.
“We’re always optimistic,” the Inter Sporting Director said of talks with Skriniar, “for anyone who does this job we have to be.”
“We’re in negotiations, talking, we’ve made him an important offer,” he continued.
“We have to allow the appropriate time for the player and his representatives to make their reflections.”
“What I can assure is that Skriniar is an absolute professional and shows it every day in training,” Ausilio said.
“He’s highly motivated, focused on Inter, then as far as his contract extension is concerned, there are people working on it.”
Asked if he’s heard from Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, winner of the World Cup in yesterday’s final against France, Ausilio replied “After the final, no, during the World Cup yes.”
“After the triumph it was natural that he’d share some messages with the club and with his teammates.”
“I think he’s recovering from the hangover of last night, and now it’s time for him to enjoy another evening with his family and friends,” the executive added, “there will be time for Inter.”
Asked about what kind of transfer window he expects from Inter, Ausilio jokingly replied “For journalists, who knows.”
“On the other hand, for us as directors who actually work on it, it will be a lot easier,” he assured.
“We have a competitive team,” the Nerazzurri Sporting Director added, “our plans will be made a lot easier because we have Brozovic and Lukaku coming back, Lautaro motivated by the World Cup, Correa is also getting better and better.”
“Their absence had left us a bit thin,” he noted, “and now we have three more top players to call upon, and more depth.”
Of Lukaku, Ausilio said that “He’s motivated, he knows it’s time to write another chapter.”
“The World Cup was a time to only think about the national teams, and now it’s back to thinking about Inter, and he’s motivated.”
Of wingback Robin Gosens, Lukaku said that “I’m starting to see the Gosens from Atalanta, he has great pace, he’s in good condition physically.”
“He’s been out for a long time,” Ausilio said of Gosens, “he’s had a hard time regaining his fitness, and then Dimarco has been in great form which has meant it’s been hard for him to get playing time.”
“We have two players in each position, we want them to be competitive.”
Lastly, Ausilio said of goalkeeper Andre Onana, who had left Cameroon’s World Cup squad early after disagreements with the coaching staff, that “He’s been here with us for a week, and he seems to be doing well to me.”
“I haven’t asked what happened, I don’t care, the important thing is that he’s concentrated on Inter.”
