Nerazzurri CEO Beppe Marotta has confirmed that midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan wants to extend his contract with Inter Milan.
The Inter executive spoke to Italian broadcaster SportMediaset, via FCInterNews, after the team’s Champions League win over Red Bull Salzburg. He gave updates about the contract extension prospects at the club, including those of Mkhitaryan.
Mkhitaryan is one of a number of Inter players whose current contracts run out at the end of next June.
The 34-year-old former Arsenal, Manchester United, and Roma veteran signed a two-year deal with the Nerazzurri last summer. ANd he has yet to agree a new deal.
Reports suggest that Inter are keen to agree a new contract with Mkhitaryan.
Regardless of the Armenian’s age, he remains a key contributor to the team. That was once again on show yesterday as he helped the Nerazzurri to an important Champions League win.
There will still need to be negotiations with Mkhitaryan’s agent before he can put pen to paper.
But according to Marotta, there is no doubt regarding the 34-year-old’s desire to stay. And in fact, that is the case with all the players in the squad, the CEO claims.
Beppe Marotta Confirms Henrikh Mkhitaryan Wants Inter Stay
Mkhitaryan had already made clear in a recent interview that he would like to stay at Inter.
Marotta said that “I can say with great pride that all our players want to stay here and extend their contracts.”
“We will do so in due time,” the executive continued. “With complete calm, and without losing sight of the busy fixture list.”
“But this is an important fact,” Marotta made clear.
He noted that “Mkhitaryan is one of those players. We’re proud of the public declaration of love he made towards the club.”
And as far as the Nerazzurri’s prospects in the Champions League, Marotta gave an honest reflection.
“We know that the Champions League is a competition where we have to come into the matches with the right combination of factors – without injuries, without suspensions, in good physical form,” the Inter CEO said.
“It’s a very long journey between now and June,” he went on. “Even if we make it through to the round of sixteen.”
“The difference compared to the league is that, given all the different factors, the strongest team doesn’t necessarily always win.”
Marotta admitted that in Europe, “A bit of luck never hurts.”
“We’ll try to emulate our path from last season,” he said.
“City and Real Madrid are inevitably the top contenders,” the Inter CEO predicted. “And then there could also be a team who at the moment people aren’t necessarily expecting.”
