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Lionel Messi to Inter Milan: Zanetti reacts to Barcelona transfer news after Ronaldo move
LIONEL MESSI will not be joining Inter Milan this summer.
That is the official word of Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti.
Barcelona superstar Messi emerged as a reported target of Inter this week.
Newspapers in Italy claimed the player could follow new Juventus signing Cristiano Ronaldo to Serie A.
But Zanetti has laughed off the reports, saying there is no chance of the Argentina wizard arriving at the San Siro.
“It’s absolutely crazy and there is no truth in any of the stories that we were going to ask for Messi,” he told Fox Sports Argentina.
Messi, 31, is paid an estimated €2m a week at Barcelona, which takes into account his wages, image rights and sponsorships.
There is no truth in any of the stories that we were going to ask for Messi
Inter would have to break the bank to sign him from Barca before then considering how to pay his wages.
Ronaldo’s move to Juventus has been partly financed by FIAT.
The £105m transfer fee and £106m wages over four years is by far the biggest pay-out ever made by an Italian club.
Tuttosport claimed on Tuesday that a deal for Messi to join Ronaldo is Serie A was being drawn up by Inter bosses.
But even if the San Siro giants did want the superstar, manager Luciano Spalletti may struggle to fit him into his side.
Mauro Icardi rules the roost up front for Inter and the striker famously cannot seem to tick alongside his compatriot.
In fact, Icardi was left out of Argentina’s World Cup squad this summer, in part because there was no room for him that was not already filled by the Barcelona gem.
Discussing Inter’s strikers Mauro Icardi and Lautaro Martinez, Zanetti said he was happy they were both staying this summer.
“We are happy with both and Icardi’s staying. We’ll sit down with him shortly to discuss a renewal,” he said.
“He’s a great professional and has been Inter’s captain for two years. He behaves like a captain and is not going to Real Madrid.”