The soap opera is over. The transfer of Mauro Icardi at Psg, albeit on loan, marks the conclusion of the most controversial case of this market, second only, perhaps, to what involved Neymar and the French club itself. However, here we have reached the happy ending and it doesn't matter that it was necessary to wait for the last day available: what matters is the result and that, after months and months of back and forth, has been achieved.
In short, never like this year has the last day of the market revealed itself as a harbinger of surprises, involving its most valuable piece. It had already been understood that something was changing on Sunday evening, when the Argentine's entourage, or his wife-prosecutor Wanda Nara, had sensationally opened up to a last minute transfer, a hypothesis averted until a few hours earlier.
But Inter's hard line, reaffirmed for the umpteenth time by Marotta, and Leonardo's flattery made inroads, prompting the most talked about couple in football to get up early and take a private flight to Paris. But while Mauro listened to the technical projects of his potential new club, Wanda negotiated a contract renewal with Marotta that was absolutely essential for the success of the deal: in fact, to agree to the loan, Inter had to extend the relationship until 2022, under penalty risk finding himself in 12 months a player close to expiry, and therefore with no economic value. Icardi thus saw his salary increase to 7 million, obviously paid by PSG, which will become 10 (for 5 years) in the event of a redemption. Scenario for which the Nerazzurri are also rooting: if this were the case, in addition to the 5 million for the loan, there would be another 65 in 12 months, for a total of 70.
All happy then, at least in appearance. Because behind Icardi's first French posts ("proud to be Parisian, here you can aim high") is the surrender of a player forced to leave Italy, in defiance of that black and white shirt that was his real goal , but also an Inter that lends someone who, until 6 months ago, was worth 110 million cash. However, the way things had turned out, including the lawsuit for damages, it was difficult to hope for anything better, which is why the parties, as they say, can be satisfied. The deal in question, obviously, took the whole scene but the last day of the market also gave other blows.
Il Milan managed to complete the exchange of (two-year) loans between André Silva e Rebic, with redemptions (for both) set at 25 million. The Rossoneri thus closed a very complicated summer with the Croatian forward, decidedly more functional than the Portuguese: he is a godsend for Giampaolo, who after the break, perhaps, will be able to start showing us his football. Nothing to do instead for Taison, the other name chased yesterday: Shakhtar, while opening to the sale, did not discount the 30 million rescission clause, forcing Aldo Rossi to let go.
“It has been a tough market, we are in a gradual process and we know that our fans are tired of waiting – the analysis of Boban. – But Maldini and I also want results and we are convinced that we have built a good squad. Time will tell whether it will be like this or not but we believe we have taken players who can become great."
The other coup of the day did it Roma, that after Kalinic she also gave herself Mkhitaryan, arrived from Arsenal with the dry loan formula (3 million). "I haven't met my teammates yet but I know we can do something important" explained the Armenian, Italy's next opponent in the Euro 2020 qualifying match.
The market, like any self-respecting session, then closed with a photo-finish deal: we are not at the levels of Preziosi in 2007 (Milito's contract launched in the form of a small airplane), but certainly the passage of Verdi in Turin some shiver gave him. Cairo and De Laurentiis reached an agreement at 21.58, two minutes before the gong, with the winger in the grenade with the formula of the onerous loan (3 million) with a redemption obligation set at 20.
Then to report Kjaer to Atalanta, Ghezzal in Fiorentina, Babacar at Lecce, Rigoni at Sampdoria, Okaka at Udinese, Stepinski at Verona, Matri at Brescia and many, many, others.
Nothing to say on the other hand Juventus, who lived the last day as a spectator. A bit like they will have to do Mandzukic, Emre Can and still others during the Champions League matches, given the impossibility of entering the list. A problem that many would like to have, God forbid, but which the Lady would have gladly done without.
