This afternoon there was a courtesy lunch between the boards of FC Barcelona and Inter Milan ahead of the big Champions League match. The meeting ended with a shocking offer on the table at the Via Veneto restaurant.
Inter, aware of the talent emerging from La Masia, has put 80 million euros to take one of Barça's jewels.
Inter Wants to Take Advantage of Fermín Not Being a Starter at Barça
Joan Laporta, Xavi Puig, Josep Ignaci Macià, and Joan Solé were there representing the blaugrana. Meanwhile, Inter was represented by President Giuseppe Marotta and Vice President Javier Zanetti.
Although the details are handled discreetly, sources close to the matter indicate that Inter has set its sights on one of the blaugrana jewels. In Milan, they are clear: they want to get ahead of the other European giants and close a signing for the present... and especially for the future.
At Inter, they know that Barça has an excess of players in the midfield. Players like Fermín or Gavi find it difficult to be starters. In Milan, they would open the doors to a starting position unconditionally in the Nerazzurri team.
The offer caught the blaugrana leadership by surprise. Rafa Yuste, the sports vice president, did not want to confirm the player's name. But he did leave a phrase that says it all: "They want to take away what we love the most."
At Barça, there is pride in the youth academy, but they also know that the financial situation forces them to listen to proposals.
The Dilemma Joan Laporta Faces
Joan Laporta now has a complicated dilemma on the table. The youth player in question is protected, but the 80 million would make it very difficult to reject the operation. Even more so if it is to finance part of the desired signing: Haaland.
For now, there is no agreement, but Inter will not give up easily. They want to close the deal before the end of the Nations League, where the player's value could skyrocket. Barça, meanwhile, is considering how to take the hit without weakening the project.
The Champions League match was not the only hot topic at Camp Nou. The institutional lunch ended up being a silent auction that could shape the summer market.