Next week will be Italy-Spain at the European Championships. But a crossroads of this kind will also be staged… between Milan and Genoa. The protagonist is Josep Martinez, who is preparing to become Inter’s new goalkeeper. Next to Sommer, not behind. In the potential fast lane, with the idea of quickly picking up his legacy, with the label of the player to whom the Nerazzurri club plans to entrust the role for the next few years. We are close to closing: by mid-week the two clubs will meet again to close the deal and complete that piece of road that still remains to be covered.
Four names
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For example, the technical counterpart. Inter have proposed Genoa a squad of four names to choose from: Satriano, Oristanio, Zanotti and Pio Esposito, for whom the Nerazzurri club will exercise the counter-ransom from Spezia. The rossoblu club took a few days to evaluate the most interesting profile. But there is an opening in this sense and for Inter it is an important step, because it will mean lowering the amount of cash to be paid into Genoa’s coffers. All in all, not a different operation from what happened a year ago with Sassuolo for Frattesi, with the cash reduced with the inclusion of Mulattieri as a counterpart. With a note: whatever the player, the Nerazzurri club will want to stay there in some way buy again, i.e. the right of repurchase at a pre-established amount in the future. And then there is the matter of the evaluation of the price tag: Inter is stuck at a quota of 15 million – a figure to be lowered with the compensation -, Genoa is stuck at a request of 18 million. As usual, as happens in these cases, the difference will be made up with bonuses.
Appreciation
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The optimism is notable, no one is betting on the negotiation failing. Martinez, for his part, has already reached an agreement with Inter for a five-year contract with an increasing salary, starting from 1.5 million euros in the first season. The Spaniard is obviously enthusiastic. Inter followed him throughout the season, the references were positive straight away. So much so that when sporting director Ausilio realized that the Bento operation would be too expensive – Athletico Paranaense first asked for 20 million, then even raised the stakes – he didn’t think twice about diverting his attention on Martinez: two meetings were enough to set up the deal, which now has very little left to finalize.
And then Gud
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Martinez may not be the only negotiation on the Milan-Genoa axis. Because during recent chats the name of Gudmundsson has inevitably come up, Inter’s favorite to further strengthen the attack. The two deals are unrelated, also because the times do not coincide and Inter can now take Martinez without needing to collect money from the transfers. This is not the case for the Icelandic, for whom (at least) the sale of Arnautovic is needed. In short, patience is needed, even if the starting point – the player’s total satisfaction with the destination – is excellent. Current affairs, however, are called Martinez. With the Spaniard, Inter wants to give Inzaghi another starter. The coach had asked for a qualitatively deeper squad: Zielinski, Taremi, now Martinez, the path is well traced.
