Speaking to the media, Mauro ICARDI mentioned about a possible move to Inter Milan and why it didn’t work out at Barcelona. Here’s what he had to say:

“Inter are a great team with a lot of Argentine players who are real champions. I try not to think about any transfer rumours, but it’s flattering to hear that Inter are interested. If a club like them want you, you can only be happy.”

“They have ZANETTI, who is a real myth for us Argentines. He is a great champions and I’m really sorry about his injury.”

On why he left Barcelona:
“Together with my agent and my father, we noticed that it’s hard for a certain type of striker to fit in at Barcelona. Even a world-class player like IBRAHIMOVIC struggled. If even someone like IBRA is having a difficult time, what would it be like for me… It was in my best interest to move on.” ]]> http://transfer-talk.com/seriea/mauro-icardi-reveals-interest-in-inter-move-and-why-he-left-barca/feed/ 0 http://transfer-talk.com/bbva/ac-milan-ponder-move-for-reals-xabi-alonso/ http://transfer-talk.com/bbva/ac-milan-ponder-move-for-reals-xabi-alonso/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 16:12:16 +0000 transfertalk http://transfer-talk.com/?p=2769 AC Milan are pondering a swoop for Xabi Alonso as the midfielder is considering leaving Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.

The Serie A giants are keen to add some more experience to their squad ahead of next season and they see the Spain international as a valuable addition to their midfield.

Alonso has a contract with Madrid until June 2014 and would be open to a new challenge this summer after four seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid have set a £12.6 million (€15m) asking price for Alonso and are ready to cash in on the midfielder if Milan were to meet that sum.

Nevertheless, Alonso’s personal demands could prove to be a stumbling block for Milan, with the former Liverpool man having set his sights on a three-year deal worth £3.3m per year.

The Spain international has also been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Inter, but no club has made a formal approach for the 31-year-old so far.

The Moroccan international has managed just seven appearances this season, including a disappointing loan spell at West Ham and has admitted that he is likely to be sold by the Gunners.

The 29-year-old has only found the net 14 times since arriving in England and has now revealed he is missing France, hinting that he could return to Bordeaux.

“There is always a bit of nostalgia when I see the Bordeaux fans and players. I spent so many good times here,” he said.

“However it has been three years since I left and we always talk about me here. I’ll ask myself the question again; I’ll see.

“Everyone knows that Bordeaux is the club in my heart. I’ll have to make sacrifices because I cannot stay like this. If I find an agreement with Bordeaux, why not.”

Andre Villas-Boas has hinted he is interested in making a move for Barcelona forward David Villa.

The Spanish record goal-scorer, who has found game-time hard to come by at the Camp Nou this season, is said to be interested in a move to the Premier League.

Reports emerged from Spain this week suggesting that Spurs had held talks with Barcelona over a deal for the 31-year-old, with an agreement said to be close.

Speaking ahead of Tottenham‘s final game of the season against Sunderland, Villas-Boas said he was a fan of the Barcelona forward, but refused to get too carried away over the prospect of a deal being done.

“He is one of the world’s best strikers,” said Villas-Boas.

“What comes out of speculation at this time at Tottenham is very surreal because you know the club is very active in the last weeks of the transfer window, so you can see that speculation is growing – but at the moment we are focussed on trying to get fourth spot.

However the former Chelsea boss laughed off speculation linking his current side with a move for Croatian Ante Rebic – insisting he had never heard of the RNK Split forward before.

Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with a move for the Villa in the past.

The Gunners were heavily linked with a move for Villa during the January transfer window, but a deal to take him to the Emirates Stadium failed to materialise. 

Wether Arsenal remain interested is unclear – however recent reports suggest Arsene Wenger is lining up a move for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.

Inter are desperate for some summer reinforcements as they look to rebuild after a poor season that sees the 18-time Serie A champions languish in ninth place in the table with just one match remaining.

Lennon, who arrived from Leeds United for £1m in 2005, has four goals and six assists to his name from 33 Premier League appearances this season. With Spurs expected to sign some attacking players in the summer and Lewis Holtby, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey already fighting him for the two attacking midfield spots alongside Gareth Bale, Lennon could consider a move away from north London.

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger believes compatriot Christian Eriksen would be an ideal summer transfer window acquisition for the Reds, and has urged his employers to make a move for the Ajax star.

Eriksen has established himself as one of the most coveted young talents in European football since breaking into the Ajax first-team and, along with Liverpool, the 21-year-old has also been linked with Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund.

The Denmark international is reported to have been identified by BVB as a potential for Mario Götze, who has agreed a transfer to Bayern Munich, and Frank de Boer has confirmed Jurgen Klopp has been in touch regarding Eriksen.

Agger, however, hopes Liverpool will heed his advice and make an attempt to bring Eriksen to Anfield, and claims the young midfielder is a perfect player to execute the philosophy instilled by Reds manager Brendan Rodgers.

“We want to play attacking football with the ball on the ground and that is exactly what Christian Eriksen is all about,” Agger said, as reported by the Daily Mail.

“That is the kind of player we need. It all depends on which team he plays for.

Despite his hope that Eriksen will arrive at Liverpool this summer, Agger has told his Denmark teammate to make his own decision on his future, rather than be influenced by the opinions of others.

“He has to do what he believes is best and no-one else but him should decide his future,” Agger added.

“You must never listen to anyone else other than yourself.”

Sanogo has come through the ranks at Auxerre and scored nine goals in 11 appearances for the Ligue 2 side in 2012/2013.

Arsenal expect the deal to be completed in the coming weeks, with Sanogo reportedly giving his word to Arsene Wenger during a meeting in February.

The rumours linking Arsenal and Sanogo have been swirling for some time and it would be a typical Wenger move to pluck a player from France who is not so well known in England.

Sanogo joins Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby as another Frenchman at the Emirates.

The 20-year-old 6.3ft striker has impressed for France at youth level as well as becoming a regular at Auxerre this season.

Although he has been on the scene for several seasons, the past twelve months have seen Yaya Sanogo come on leaps and bounds.

Sanogo grabbed the limelight earlier in the season when he scored seven goals in one week in February 2103: four against Laval and a hat-trick against Tours.

Sanogo’s imminent arrival at the Emirates, however, should come with a word of warning.

Whilst Sanogo has a big reputation, many doubt whether it’s wholeheartedly deserved. Particularly, Sanogo has been hit with injuries since he burst onto the scene with Auxerre in 2010, and many wonder whether the striker is a sicknote.

Moreover, Sanogo has played much of his football with Auxerre in the 2nd division club, and some doubt whether the striker can make the step up to the big leagues.

French centre-half Diakite has been linked with a move to Wearside for several weeks, as Sunderland look for cost-effective quality on the Continental market.

The 26-year-old is out-of-contract at Lazio in the summer and that has alerted Napoli, Juventus and several Russian clubs to his availability on a Bosman deal.

But reports from Serie A suggest Sunderland have identified the 6ft 4in Diakite as a prime target and will look to make progress on the deal over the next week, with the threat of relegation now over.

Milan-based agent Roberto De Fanti, expected to be confirmed as Sunderland’s new director of football, has been working on identifying players on the Continent since taking on a consultancy role with the Black Cats.

Portugese winger Diogo Viana has been targeted, while French centre-half Valentin Roberge is close to sealing a Bosman move from Portugese outfit Maritimo.

While Diakite is another central defender, Sunderland require several additions in that area, with Matt Kilgallon and Titus Bramble leaving when their contracts expire in the summer and on-loan Kader Mangane returning to parent club Al-Hilal.

Diakite has made 83 appearances for Lazio since arriving from fellow Italian outfit Pescara in 2006, where he had come through the club’s ranks.

But he has been unused by the Italian giants this season after losing his place through injury, and agent Ulisse Savini said earlier this month how Diakite would be keen on a move to Sunderland.

“If they call us, we would be honoured to speak with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Blue Square Premier outfit Grimsby Town are chasing Sunderland youngster Billy Knott.

The 20-year-old has spent the bulk of the campaign on loan at Conference side Woking and that has alerted the Mariners to the midfielder, who recently penned a year-long extension to his Sunderland deal.