Inter Milan are reportedly still working on a deal to sign defender Giovanni Leoni from Parma – Cristian Chivu key.
This according to today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. They report that Cristian Chivu being on the Inter bench is key.
Inter Milan have had defender Giovanni Leoni in their sights for some time.
The Nerazzurri had already wanted to sign the Italy Under-21 international as far back as last summer. They had worked on a deal to sign him from Sampdoria.
However, it was Parma who instead managed to sign the teenage defender.
Inter Milan Still Working On A Deal For Giovanni Leoni
It would be fair to say that Leoni’s signing worked out for Parma.
The Emilian club paid a fee of around €7 million to sign the young defender last summer. And now, they would reportedly expect to get €30 million to sell the 19-year-old.
A lot of that explosion in form owes to the role that Leoni had under Cristian Chivu.
Chivu became Parma coach in the spring. He guided Parma to Serie A safety.
And Giovanni Leoni was virtually a constant starter under the Romanian coach. He was trusted with a key role in defense for the Gialloblu.
Now, Chivu has become the coach of Inter Milan, replacing Simone Inzaghi.
And according to the Gazzetta, the Nerazzurri have therefore made it a priority to keep chipping away at a deal for Leoni. They want to reunite the 19-year-old with Chivu,
Leoni is 195 cm and has shown the right mentality. I said last summer that Inter should buy him and loan him out. Now he is much more expensive, but at least buy him this summer.
This deal should be priority number 1 until it gets done!! Leoni can be a defensive rock for the next decade! Not many players in World Football can bully Lukaku, yet Leoni did it at 18 years of age!
Outside of Bastoni (and Augusto backing him up), we have a 37 year old Acerbi, a 35 year old Darmian, a 33 year old DeVrij, an injury prone Pavard, and an inconsistent Bisseck…. Leoni is an absolute must!!!
You are absolutely right. We had the opportunity to get him last summer for 5m and didn’t , also at the end of this just concluded season he was worth 20m and we still didn’t wrap it up and now he is worth 30m and am afraid if we don’t get him now he will be worth 50m by the end of July. And am hoping someone with some sense in the management will not be loaning out pio esposito to now sign the flopped Man U striker rasmus for 40m. Marotta might just be getting too old now and being too slow closing out deals trying to low ball every single deal till deal collapses
Of course they didn’t.. Probably put off by his age.. If this is true then inter scouts are incompetent, or they believe that there was no need approaching him at the time, after all, he wouldn’t have been used… Ooh well, there are many talents around the world for inter to take their pick if they please…
Leoni suit high press Chivu style of football. He high press Lukaku and tame Him.
And Chivu know Leoni very tough to beat at one on one.
I agree with you. 30mil may sound steep but I think this purchase will be a similar case to when we got Bastoni. He too will be a world class defender and his value will probably double or even tripple.