Inter Milan have dropped out of the race for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, and a report suggests that Nicolò Barella may have played a role in the saga.
The USMNT star was on top of Giuseppe Marotta’s shortlist. The Nerazzurri are still seeking one or two additions to the striking department before the end of the summer transfer campaign.
But as we reported earlier, the Italian giants decided to abandon the race for the 22-year-old striker.
The club has now shifted its attention towards Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi.
Inter will be looking to sign them both. This will require selling Joaquin Correa to make room for the experienced duo.
As for Balogun, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà offers more insight into the story via his website.
The transfer market expert explains how Inter were led to believe that offering 30 million euros plus five as add-ons and a percentage on a future resale should be enough to seal the deal.
However, the situation has changed in the last four or five days, with Arsenal repeatedly raising their asking price.
Inter Milan Have Reportedly Provoked Arsenal By Rejecting Their Offer For Barella, Sparking The Recent Debacle In Balogun Saga
The Gunners’ demands eventually became unsustainable, prompting the Italians to drop out of the race for the young American.
Moreover, Pedullà suggests that Inter may have provoked Arsenal by rejecting their bid for Barella.
The Nerazzurri declared their star midfielder untouchable. They aren’t willing to negotiate any offers for the Sardinian.
In fact, Inter are working on extending the 26-year-old’s contract, even though his current deal runs until 2026.
Nevertheless, this suggestion remains unproven and purely speculative at this point.
