Inter Milan have reportedly leaped ahead of Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Liverpool in the race to sign young starlet Joao Mario.
Inter Milan are the favourites to land Portugese international Joao Mario as the 23-year-old has stated he wants a move to the Serie A giants. The report by calciomercato states that according to Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, Joao Mario has refused a proposal by La Liga club Atletico Madrid, maintaining his wish to move to Inter Milan.
Portugese paper Record claimed earlier that a €40m Inter bid was rejected by Sporting CP for the midfielder. The report states that the Sporting hierarchy understands that no club is close to activating the 23-year-old’s release clause, which stands at €60m, and are willing to negotiate at the €50m mark.
The report goes on to state that the Nerazzurri are likely to achieve the reported fee through their new owners. The Serie A club hopes the Chinese owners would buy the player at their Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning and loan the player to Italy.
Joao Mario was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United as the Red Devils had reportedly scouted him repeatedly in early 2016, as per Portugese newspaper A Bola. The Old Trafford outfit had reportedly earmarked the midfielder after losing out Renato Sanches to Bayern Munich.
United were not the only Premier League club interested in the Portugese international as media outlet Jornal de Noticias had revealed a failed bid by Chelsea before the Euro 2016. A Bola had also reported interest from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool earlier last month.
Joao Mario’s exit rumours were sparked after his father Joao Mario Eduardo revealed in an interview to A Bola that the player was unhappy with the current contract at Sporting.
“It is normal that he is hurt. He is insufficiently valued. Sporting say Joao is worth 60 million and pay him like 10.”
But the father of the Portugese was quick to add that the Liga Sagres club could hold on to the player if they were to offer him an improved contract.
“We are prepared for Joao to stay another year in Portugal, but Sporting have to recognise his importance and pay the fair value.”
Joao Mario joined the Lions at the age of 11 and enjoyed his best season in the last campaign scoring 7 goals in 33 league appearances. The Portugese international caught the eye of the world with his performances in Liga Sagres that saw him being picked in the Euro squad. The 23-year-old has played in all six of Portugal’s matches in Euro 2016 and will be looking to help the Reds’ beat hosts France in the final.
Joao Mario’s stock has seen a significant rise owing to his strong display in the European Championship and the Portugese seems to have set his heart on a move to Inter. Sporting won’t be too concerned with the transfer provided they get the asking price, and with new owners at San Siro, La Beneamata seem to be the 23-year-old’s most probably destination this summer.
