PSG a buyer as window closes
Former Inter captain Icardi lands in Paris on a one-year loan
While a blockbuster deal for Neymar seemed unlikely, clubs across Europe completed transfer business before the window shut later Monday.
Paris Saint-Germain seemed more likely to add a forward rather than sell Neymar as reports from Italy said Mauro Icardi was heading to Paris to complete a one-year loan move.
While financial details were not disclosed, the deal is expected to put Icardi’s price tag at $77 million (U.S.) if PSG picks up the option after the free loan.
Inter also said Icardi extended his contract through 2022.
Icardi, an Argentina international, has had an often volatile relationship with Inter. He had a contract dispute in January and was stripped of the captaincy.
Icardi then said he had a knee injury, although the club said tests did not reveal any problem. There then followed a sixweek exile before Icardi eventually resumed training, returning to the field for the last weeks of the season.
The 26-year-old was never included in the plans of new Inter coach Antonio Conte for this season.
PSG also swapped goalkeepers with Real Madrid, acquiring three-time European champion Keylor Navas while loaning Alphonse Areola to the Spanish powerhouse to serve as a backup to Thibaut Courtois.
á Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived in Italy to sign for Roma on loan from Arsenal, with his intended new club publishing photos of him undergoing his medical. Roma also acquired striker Nikola Kalinic on loan from Atlético Madrid.
á Defender Matteo Darmian joined Parma after four years at Manchester United. Parma said the 29-year-old Darmian signed a four-year contract. The transfer fee was not announced. Darmian played only 92 games for United, and was out of favour with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
á Napoli said it signed free agent forward Fernando Llorente, who previously won two Serie A titles at Juventus. The 34-year-old Spain international was available on a free transfer after his contract at Tottenham expired in the off-season.
Llorente, who was used as a late substitute in the Champions League final against Liverpool in June, will return to the competition with Napoli. The Serie A runners-up will play defending champion Liverpool in the group stage.
á Another former Tottenham player at Napoli, defender Vlad Chiriches, left to join Sassuolo.
Sassuolo said it signed the 29year-old Romania captain on loan with an obligation to buy in a permanent deal.
á Mexico forward Javier (Chicharito) Hernández returned to Spain to join Sevilla from West Ham. He previously spent a season on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester United. “I have come to demand more of myself to bring out the best in me,” Chicharito said on Monday. “I see myself achieving great things with this club.”
á Barcelona said midfielder Rafinha agreed to a one-year contract extension until June 2021 and to be loaned for this season to Spanish rival Celta Vigo.
Barcelona said on Monday that Celta will cover Rafinha’s salary and pay the Spanish champions a possible $1.6 million (U.S.).