INTER MILAN have been tipped to pull off an incredible transfer for Lionel Messi.
Former president Massimo Moratti believes Antonio Conte can lure the Barcelona star to Italy this summer, years after Inter originally tried poaching the Argentine from the Nou Camp.
Inter Milan have been tipped to pull off an audacious deal for Lionel MessiCredit: Reuters
Messi, 32, is currently at odds with the Barca board after cutting his wages by 70 per cent to help support non-playing staff during the coronavirus crisis.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner also had a public spat with director Eric Abidal in the wake of Ernesto Valverde’s sacking earlier this season.
And with just over a year remaining on his contract, there is a feeling Messi could call time on his Catalan career.
Inter famously triggered Messi’s £132million release clause when he was just 18 years old in 2006.
But he rejected their approach to stay at Barca, where he has scored 627 goals in 718 games and won TEN La Liga titles as well as four Champions Leagues.
However, Moratti – who was president at the time of the audacious bid – believes Inter can now finally land their man this summer.
And he reckons Barca’s interest in Lautaro Martinez will help Inter along the way.
Moratti told Radio Rai: “I don’t believe Messi is a forbidden dream at all.
“Maybe it never was even before all this misfortune.
“He is in the final stretch of his contract and, without doubt, it would take a tremendous effort to bring him here.
“I don’t know if the current situation changes anything for better or for worse.
“But I think we will see some strange things at the end of the year.
“Martinez is a good boy who cares about his career.
“But we will see if he’s part of a deal to bring in more important players like Messi.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
