Ex West Ham United Veteran Has Decided To Stay At Inter Milan

Striker Marko Arnautovic has decided to stay at Inter Milan as a backup option in attack for the upcoming season.

This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They report that the 35-year-old plans to remain unless any surprise offers come up.

There has been some uncertainty around whether or not Arnautovic will remain an Inter player for this season.

The Austrian international joined the Nerazzurri last summer. He signed a two-year contract after arriving from Bologna.

Therefore, Arnautovic still has one more season on his deal, which expires at the end of next June.

However, there are doubts about how much playing time Arnautovic will receive this season.

Last campaign, the former West Ham United and Stoke City striker was largely just a backup option in attack.

And this summer, Mehdi Taremi has arrived on a free transfer from Porto. The Iranian is a striker with a fairly similar profile to Arnautovic, and will expect to have significant playing time.

Therefore, Arnautovic will likely fall down the pecking order to be a strictly fourth-choice striker.

Marko Arnautovic Has Decided To Stay At Inter Milan

For all of the above reasons, Inter have made clear to Arnautovic that he would certainly be free to leave this summer.

Moreover, the Nerazzurri could move for a different attacker in the event that the Austrian were to depart.

But at the same time, Inter aren’t forcing Arnautovic out the door.

The feeling within the Nerazzurri is that Arnautovic is a solid squad player and positive dressing room influence.

The biggest concern with the 35-year-old is his recent injury history. Arnautovic is currently out with a thigh problem. He had a couple layoffs with muscle injuries last season as well.

But Inter will happily keep hold of Arnautovic for one more season. They’ve put the decision in the player’s hands.

It is not a situation like with Joaquin Correa, who Inter want to offload by any means necessary this summer.

The Gazzetta report that none of the interest so far this summer has convinced Arnautovic to leave Inter this summer.

Of course, there would always be the possibility of an attractive offer coming in during the last few weeks of the transfer window.

But as things stand, Arnautovic has told Inter that he plans to stay.