Former Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan doesn’t hide the fact that he’d like to stay at Inter Milan for a while longer.
The 34-year-old spoke in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg, as reported by FCInterNews.
Over the first couple months of this season, Mkhitaryan has continued to be a key man for Inter.
The Armenian joined the Nerazzurri from Roma on a free transfer last summer. And virtually ever since then, he has been easily one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Mkhitaryan will turn 35 during the current season.
But the former Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United veteran has shown few signs of slowing down.
On the contrary, Mkhitaryan has been in some of his very best form over the last season and change for Inter.
Mkhitaryan’s contract runs out at the end of next June. He is still one the two-year deal that he signed last summer.
But by all accounts, Inter want to extend Mkhitaryan’s contract.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Happy At Inter, Want To Stay
Mkhitaryan noted that “Before coming to Inter, I spoke to the coach.”
“I said that I would do everything to play and help the team, and that the choice of whether to play me or not was his.”
“I was always available to do everything, in the end the coach is the one who decides,” Mkhitaryan explained.
The former Roma midfielder noted that “I’ve never been a defensive player. But acting as a midfielder I do everything to help the team in both phases.”
“I feel great here,” the Armenian said. ‘In the city and at the team.”
“I’m doing my best to help my teammates.”
Mkhitaryan made clear that “I do my job on the pitch. Then my agent and the club take care of the rest.”
“I feel good, I work hard and I’d still like to stay. We’ll see what happens.”
As far as tomorrow’s match, Mkhitaryan said that “We’re preparing to give our best tomorrow.”
“We know that Salzburg are a strong. We’ve already faced them in preseason.”
“But we’re playing at home in front of our fans,”the 34-year-old noted. “We want to win, and then we’ll think about Roma.”
And as far as whether he could play as an attacking midfielder, Mkhitaryan observed that “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I’ve often played as an attacking midfielder, and I like doing it.”
“If the coach sees me in that role, then I’ll do everything to help the team.”
“Otherwise I will continue to play where he wants me to,” Mkhitaryan made clear. “But nothing changes, football is played by everyone, not just individuals.”
