Inter Close to Selling Dutch International for €15 Million, Swift Moves to Block Conte's Target Fall Short

In the past 24 hours, Inter Milan has been quite active in the transfer market. First, Josep Martinez completed his medical ahead of his move to Inter. The transfer fee, including add-ons, is around €15 million. We've previously discussed how this tall goalkeeper, with his top-tier aerial ability in Serie A and greater range of movement, can aid Inter, so there's no need to delve into that again.

Meanwhile, the deal for Dutch international Stefan de Vrij to join Al-Ittihad in Jeddah has progressed rapidly. Recently dismissed AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is preparing to take charge in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ittihad has been in contact with de Vrij for some time, and now, prominent Saudi media outlet Aawsat's journalist Fares Al-Farz has announced that de Vrij's move to Al-Ittihad is "nearing completion." According to Sky Sports, de Vrij is set to receive a lucrative salary in the Saudi league, which has enticed the player. Inter has not placed any obstacles in de Vrij's path, respecting his wishes. The Nerazzurri have set a price of €15 million and are optimistic about securing an eight-figure transfer fee.

Additionally, Buchanan’s surgery following his severe fracture was a great success. This could influence decisions in the transfer market. Marotta stated, "Buchanan is very young, and such players tend to recover quickly post-surgery. It might not take four months; the surgical report is very positive, so we need to cautiously evaluate the necessity of bringing in a replacement." Buchanan is currently considered a rotation wing-back, and if he can return by November, the urgency for Inter to spend heavily on a strong wing-back decreases significantly. Therefore, there is considerable support for Inter to bring in a center-back, which would free Augusto to temporarily cover for Buchanan. With de Vrij potentially leaving, center-back reinforcements have become one of Inter's primary objectives in the transfer market.

In this context, Inter’s links with Buongiorno (also known as "Buon Giorno") have surfaced, but so far, the attempts have not been successful. Yesterday saw considerable speculation about Buongiorno, so let’s clarify the situation. For days, Inter’s headquarters have been bustling, with agents visiting frequently. Yesterday, renowned agent Riso visited Inter’s headquarters. He was there to discuss two transfers (Franco Carboni to River Plate and Olivieri to Venezia). Riso is also Buongiorno’s agent. When leaving Inter’s headquarters, reporters asked him, "Is Buongiorno close to transferring to Napoli?" Riso joked, "Isn’t Buongiorno transferring to Inter Milan?" After the joke, Riso clarified, "We discussed Buongiorno’s situation with Inter and assessed the current circumstances."

This news quickly caused a stir on social media platforms like Twitter, with many fans, unaware of the full details, getting excited and proclaiming: “Wow, a top signing is coming to Inter!” Later, Buongiorno himself arrived in Milan and was seen dining with his agent, fueling the rumors further. However, by late night, the truth emerged: Buongiorno, Riso, and Napoli’s sporting director Manan had a meeting and had productive talks. The Italian international defender is now very close to joining Napoli and linking up with Conte. Sky Sports reported, "Inter is indeed interested in Buongiorno, but they have asked the player to wait a while to secure the funds. The player is not willing to wait, and his preference is decisive."

Buongiorno's transfer fee is €35 million. Even if Inter completes de Vrij’s sale, gathering the €35 million required for Buongiorno will take time, and they cannot guarantee it. The player’s reluctance to wait for an uncertain outcome is understandable. Di Marzio revealed that Oak Capital has agreed in principle for Inter to sign Buongiorno, but the caveat is that the funds must be raised independently, which does not solve the core issue: where will the money come from?

As early as May-June, market experts had predicted Inter’s summer operations would follow a "sell first, buy later" strategy, focusing on bargain opportunities. Does Inter have any significant outbound transfers confirmed? The answer is no. Is Buongiorno's €35 million price tag, potentially higher in a bidding war, a super opportunity in the market? Again, the answer is no. Thus, expecting the current Nerazzurri to engage in a multi-million euro bidding war for a player is indeed challenging. Napoli’s operational profit in 2023 is €80 million, and they have signed Conte this summer, making it more feasible for them to present a few “welcome gifts” for their new manager. Inter, at this stage, is just looking for opportunities to disrupt, giving the agent a chance to use "Inter’s offer" as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Napoli. Thinking that Inter plans to engage in an intense bidding war with Conte would be a misjudgment of the situation.

Overall, Inter currently needs reinforcements in both center-back and wing-back positions, and there will be no shortage of rumors. However, Inter's most urgent need is to recoup funds, which is the prerequisite for any significant signings this summer. Fans should remain calm and composed. With the upcoming season featuring an intense schedule, there is no need to get overly excited over mere rumors. Instead, it might be wise to conserve energy and enthusiasm for the season ahead.