Inter need an offer worth €12 million if they want to sell Gabriel Barbosa this summer and avoid making a net loss on the forward, Gazzetta.it explained today.
Gabigol is playing on loan at Flamengo and will return to Italy at the end of 2019, at which point Inter will have to decide on his future.
The Nerazzurri could recall him before then if another offer arrives to sign the 22-year-old on a permanent deal, so long as Flamengo received a 3% cut of any transfer fee.
However, the newspaper’s website assured that was currently ‘as likely as a snowstorm in July’, meaning he will probably come back in January.
Inter signed Barbosa for €30 million from Santos in 2016, but the forward endured a disastrous debut season in which he scored just once.
Benfica, Santos and Flamengo have all signed him on loan since then, but none have shown a real intention to pursue a permanent deal.
Gabigol extended his contract through to 2022 before joining Flamengo, enabling Inter to reduce the cost of having him on their books for each individual season.
The club would only need €9-10 million to avoid a loss if they sold him January, but even that would appear an ambitious price tag.
Flamengo had suggested they would be open to signing the striker earlier this summer, but new head coach Jorge Jesus now wants to sign Fluminense’s Pedro up front instead.
Gabigol scored 19 goals in 42 matches for Santos and has found the net seven times for Flamengo so far this season.