Nacho Fernandez’s 22-year stint at Real Madrid is approaching its end as Inter Milan bid to take the versatile defender to Serie A this summer.
According to Marca, the Italians have tabled a three-year contract offer to the 33-year-old, although the player has yet to respond.
Nacho’s deal at the Santiago Bernabeu runs out at the end of next month, but extension talks have hit a brick wall, with the parties unable to agree on the contract duration.
While the Spaniard seeks a long-term contract, Los Merengues are unwilling to go beyond a short-term renewal given his age.
Madrid’s hesitation may have opened the door for Inter to swoop in and convince the Bernabeu homegrown star to leave his boyhood club in the autumn of his playing career.
With Milan Skriniar on the verge of quitting Giuseppe Meazza after six years and a host of European clubs harbouring an interest in Alessandro Bastoni, Inter will likely overhaul their defensive options this summer.
The Slovakia international has missed out on a large chunk of the second half of the 2022/23 season with a back injury.
He is unlikely to don the Nerazzurri shirt again in anticipation of his rumoured switch to Paris Saint-Germain.
As for Bastoni, he has attracted the attention of Manchester City and Manchester United, though Inter chief Beppe Marotta recently quashed talks linking him with a summer exit.
Regardless of the Italian’s fate, Simone Inzaghi could use a new defensive option, especially with Francesco Acerbi likely to return to Lazio after his season-long loan at Meazza expires next month.
Nacho is keen on extending his stay in Madrid, but Los Blancos are seemingly reluctant to offer him a long-term contract, which fills Inter with confidence.
They are not alone in the race to sign the veteran defender, with other unnamed clubs keeping close tabs on the Spaniard.
