This evening, news coming out of Italy has revealed that long-time Spurs target and Inter Milan centre-back Milan Skriniar will not be renewing his contract at the San Siro, with his current deal expiring in June (as per Goal.com).
This leaves Skriniar free to discuss a free transfer on a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs, and that, according to the centre-back’s agent, Roberto Sistici, is exactly what he and Skriniar have been doing in a bid to resolve the Slovakian’s long-term future.
Sistici commenced his statement by describing the circumstances that led to a breakdown in the latest set of contract negotiations between Skriniar and Inter Milan:
“The truth is that the decision to put Milan Skriniar on the transfer market was taken by Inter over the summer, not by the player,” said Sistici (to Telenora via Goal.com).
“It was a decision from the club that led to negotiations between Inter and PSG, which obviously we were informed of. At a certain stage, the negotiations were interrupted and the player accepted without problems, respecting his contract as a true professional.”
“In the autumn, we replied to all the requests made by the club, and after a series of preliminary meetings, we presented our economic request. After that, in November 2022, Inter presented their proposal. Circa a month later, before Christmas, I told Inter our decision not to accept that proposal.”
According to Sistici, PSG, who have been interested in the 27-year-old centre-back’s services for a long time, have been in constant dialogue with Inter, Skriniar, and Sistici, but they are not the only guns in town, with Sistici revealing that he has been in discussions with other clubs beyond the Parisians regarding a move abroad for his client:
“Yes [when asked if PSG have been in talks with him], but also with other clubs outside of Italy.”
Sistici then dismissed the notion of his player agreeing to an extension with Inter:
“At the moment no, that is not a possibility. Anyone who knows Milan will realise his professionalism and fairness, he will always honour the jersey of the club he is registered with, especially a club that gave him so much.”
While the only piece of clarity one can derive from Sistici’s words here is that Skriniar is highly unlikely to stay at the San Siro, it remains to be seen whether the Slovakian will stay put at Inter in January and move on a free in the summer, or whether he will seek a move now.
Either way, it is unclear who the ‘other clubs’ his agent mentioned are, how he views a move to those clubs in comparison to the illustrious riches on offer at the Parc des Princes, and whether Spurs are still in the running for him at all.
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