Ant Inter deal hits buffers
ANTHONY MARTIAL’S hopes of joining Inter Milan on loan have been scuppered after Manchester United wanted attacker Ivan Perisic as part of the deal.
Inter were keen to take Martial on loan in January despite currently having Monaco’s Senegalese striker Keita Balde on loan with the option of a permanent £26.6million deal at the end of the season.
But United told the Italian’s they would have to trade Croatian World Cup star Perisic as part of any temporary move for strike star Martial.
Inter have already fallen behind leaders Juventus and want to bolster their attacking line-up with coach Luciano Spalletti a big fan of former Monaco star Martial.
And allowing Perisic to leave is not on Inter’s agenda especially as he’s already scored crucial goals in Serie A this season and is still seen as one of their crown jewels.
Martial is desperate for more game time and his tetchy relationship with Jose Mourinho has not helped but United’s hierarchy are keen to keep the 22-year-old Frenchman and have tabled a new deal for the striker.
Despite being out of favour with Mourinho, the United boss is not keen to let Martial go without a replacement – with Perisic still his top choice.
That looks unlikely to happen now with Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, blocking moves for ageing Mourinho targets in the summer and Perisic will turn 30 in February.