Italian giants Inter Milan are now front-runners in the race to sign Manchester United outcast Matteo Darmian.
It has been a difficult season for Italian full-back Matteo Darmian. If getting knocked out of the semi-finals of the European Championships in heartbreaking fashion wasn’t enough, he has been completely frozen out at Manchester United by Jose Mourinho after it was reported earlier that relations between the 26-year-old and ‘The Special One’ had completely broken down.
It was a summer filled with possibilities for the Italian. He was linked with a move to back to Italy to Roma and Napoli. Chelsea, who were desperately looking for reinforcements, were also rumoured to be interested in the defender, given his familiarity with Antonio Conte. Barcelona were interested in acquiring him after it became clear that Hector Bellerin wouldn’t be leaving Arsenal to come and fill the gap left by Dani Alves.
Inter Milan eventually approached United over a possible move for Darmian, but they were rejected by the Manchester United hierarchy. Despite launching a late bid for him, the English giants refused to enter into negotiations with the club. Now, Calciomercato reveal that the Nerazzurri are in pole position to sign the former Torino man. Darmian was left out for Manchester United’s Europa League tie against Zorya and Jose Mourinho instead chose to play youngster Timothy Fosu Mensah.
Inter Milan’s current fullbacks, David Santon, D’Ambrosio and Yuto Nagatomo, aren’t rated by the Inter Milan hierarchy and the report states that they will try to offload the trio in the January. A winter move away for Darmian looks to be the only way forward if he wishes to save his career and his place in the Italian squad, unless he chooses to try and force himself into Mourinho’s good books like team-mate Juan Mata. For whatever reason Mourinho has for keeping Darmian out of the loop, the former Torino man is a quality player as he showed last season and he would’ve surely gotten better, had it not been for his injuries. With Christian Ansaldi (after he returns), Darmian has the quality to help Frank de Boer’s side achieve a high finish in the Serie A table this season and his familiarity with the league would only be an added bonus.