Porto coach Sergio Conceicao says that Inter Milan-bound striker Mehdi Taremi is focused and “really wants to play.”
The coach spoke about the 31-year-old’s playing time during a press conference, as reported by FCInterNews.
In recent weeks, Iranian international striker has seen his playing time dry up for Porto.
The 31-year-old had previously been a fixture in the starting eleven for the Portuguese giants. However, he has played just over a full half of football since finishing up at the Asian Cup with his national team.
In fact, in Porto’s last matchday squad, Taremi did not even feature.
The timing of this is perhaps not coincidental. Taremi will not be a Porto player for much longer.
The Iranian’s contract with the Portuguese team expires at the end of this June.
And Taremi will not be signing an extension. Rather, the striker is set to make the move to Inter.
The Nerazzurri have been following Taremi for many months. And at the start of this year, they negotiated with the Iranian and his representatives, agreeing a three-year deal.
Therefore, Taremi will become an Inter player in the summer, joining on a free transfer.
Porto Coach Conceicao: Inter Bound Taremi “Really Wants To Play”
In the meantime, however, Taremi is still a Porto player.
The 31-year-old will continue to represent his current club for a few more weeks.
That does not mean, however, that Taremi will necessarily play a great deal of football.
That will ultimately be up to the striker’s coach.
If Conceicao decides to instead focus on players who he expects to be at the club next summer, with an eye to the future, then Taremi may well become something of a bit part player for Porto over the final weeks of the campaign.
The coach said of Taremi that “He’s always stayed focused.”
“When he wasn’t called up due to a technical problem, it was because he wasn’t at his best physically,” he continued.
Conceicao made clear, “But he really wants to play. As do all the members of this squad.”
“If he’s doing well physically, he’ll be called up.”
