Inter Milan

Inter Milan midfielder Radja Nainggolan hopes team-mate Mauro Icardi can put his ongoing controversy behind him and return to the side "as soon as possible."

The Belgian was on point in Sunday's 2-1 win over Sampdoria, bagging the winner, and addressed the absence of Icardi after the contest in an interview with Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia):

"I think there has been too much talk about things outside of football and it's distracting. I hope they resolve themselves, because this is a united squad and we want to win together.

"Mauro has always overcome obstacles, so I hope for him and for us that he can come back as soon as possible. He has shown what he is capable of, we have a striker who is doing well at the moment, but if we want to go far, we need everyone."

Icardi watched the match from the stands, looking on as Danilo D'Ambrosio and Manolo Gabbiadini scored to set the table for Nainggolan's winner:

Mauro Icardi watches Inter from the stands 👀 pic.twitter.com/YrCJreALdk

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 17, 2019

Here are the match highlights:

Icardi has missed Inter's last two matches in controversial fashion. As explained by Goal, the Nerazzurri have stripped him of his captaincy, and the Argentina international opted not to travel with the team to Austria for a UEFA Europa League contest.

Things have escalated since, as La Gazzetta dello Sport reported fans hit the car of his wife and agent Wanda Nara with a rock, per Marca. Inter fans also jeered the duo when television cameras spotted them in the stands on Sunday.

Icardi's sister has also gotten involved on social media:

Just Mauro Icardi arguing with his sister via Twitter...not much to see here. https://t.co/X1wB3XINDV

— John Solano (@Solano_56) February 16, 2019

The messy situation seemed to spell the end of Icardi's time in the Italian fashion capital, although Beppe Marotta has told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) Inter will still offer the 25-year-old a new contract.

Icardi has been the team's top forward for years, comfortably leading Inter in scoring since his arrival in 2013.

His form was spotty at best before he lost the captain's armband, however, and the Nerazzurri have been just fine without him:

Following the Icardi drama and with the striker in the stands, Inter scored two goals in a Serie A match for the first time since December 2nd. pic.twitter.com/ZCaU8K9ORj

— Serie A News (@TransfersCalcio) February 17, 2019

Star prospect Lautaro Martinez has stepped up in his absence, flashing the immense talent that prompted Inter to invest in the 21-year-old last summer. The Argentinian scored the winner against Rapid Wien in the Europa League.

Mauro Icardi was at the San Siro to watch Inter Milan's Serie A clash with Sampdoria on Sunday, with CEO Beppe Marotta confirming the club will offer him a renewal:

#Marotta: 'Removing #Icardi's armband was not a punishment. We will make an offer to Wanda to renew his contract' https://t.co/staQjQIgU9 pic.twitter.com/8x5nuCC1Wq

— CalcioMercato (En) (@CmdotCom_En) February 17, 2019

Icardi has been replaced as club captain by Samir Handanovic by manager Luciano Spalletti, which has fuelled speculation over his future.

Spalletti confirmed that Icardi was unavailable this weekend because of injury and was undergoing treatment, per Football Italia.

However, the striker was at the San Siro to watch his team in action:

Mauro Icardi watches Inter from the stands 👀 pic.twitter.com/YrCJreALdk

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 17, 2019

Spalletti has said that removing the captain's armband from Icardi was a "very painful and difficult" decision, per Football Italia. He also said the decision was "not against Icardi, but in favour of Inter."

Icardi was not part of Inter's squad for their UEFA Europa League clash against Rapid Vienna on Thursday.

Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Goal) that "Icardi was called up and has decided not to travel to Vienna."

Icardi responded to the events with a cryptic post on social media:

Mauro Icardi’s keeping quiet 🤐 pic.twitter.com/xjoS9RubGq

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2019

The 25-year-old is an integral player for the Serie A side, but his contract expires in 2021 and he is yet to agree a renewal:

Mauro Icardi for Inter Milan in all competitions:

👕 208 games
⚽ 122 goals

The club's ninth highest scoring player ever. pic.twitter.com/oI0koqD6Hd

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2019

The Argentinian has been linked with a shock move to rivals Juventus after losing the Inter captaincy, per Goal. Manager Massimiliano Allegri offered his response to speculation his club could move for the striker.

"I don't know anything about the market. I prefer to go to the beach in the summer! The club takes care of the players and makes them available. Icardi is a forward who can score goals, but I leave the assessments to [Inter boss Luciano] Spalletti, who coaches him and knows him better." 

Premier League side Chelsea are also reportedly interested in Icardi, according to The Sun's John Hutchinson.

However, Real Madrid have dropped their interest as they do not want to deal with Wanda Nara, Icardi's wife and agent, according to Jose Felix Diaz at Marca.

Meanwhile, Nara, has attempted to "smooth things over" with a "series of conciliatory messages on Twitter," per Football Italia.

Icardi's presence at the San Siro on Sunday is likely to be viewed as a positive sign in the current seemingly volatile saga between player and club. Yet speculation over his future at the club can be expected to continue until his contract situation is resolved.

After being stripped of the Inter Milan captaincy, Mauro Icardi posted a cryptic message on Instagram on Thursday. 

It was announced on Wednesday that the forward would no longer wear the armband, with Samir Handanovic the new skipper. The decision only served to fuel speculation regarding Icardi's future, as he has yet to sign a contract extension at the San Siro.

Following the team's 1-0 win at Rapid Vienna in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, Icardi posted via social media:

Mauro Icardi’s keeping quiet 🤐 pic.twitter.com/xjoS9RubGq

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 14, 2019

As Ben Spratt of Goal relayed, Icardi wasn't included in the squad for Thursday's match, with the player hinting that he was injured on social media. Manager Luciano Spalletti had earlier told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Goal) that "Icardi was called up and has decided not to travel to Vienna."

Per Spratt, since Handanovic was made captain, both Spalletti and sporting director Piero Ausilio described the decision to relieve Icardi of his responsibility as "painful."

The situation is far from ideal for the Milan outfit, as Icardi has been the leader of the team and also their most prolific goalscorer for several years. Per BT Sport Football, he's been a notably productive player in his time at the club:

∙ Stripped of club captaincy
∙ Out of Europa League tie

Mauro Icardi's future at Inter Milan is up in the air...

He's scored 122 goals in 210 appearances for the club 🔵⚫️ pic.twitter.com/y2bX14XFis

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 13, 2019

It's for that reason the club has been so keen to get him tied down to a new deal, which appears to have been the trigger for recent tensions.

Eurosport's Siavoush Fallahi noted that there's a sense of irony about what Icardi posted and was critical of the manner in which the player's wife and agent, Wanda Nara, has dealt with the situation:

This gets more stupid when you think of the fact that one of the reasons Mauro is getting stripped of the captains armband is Wanda saying things she shouldn’t 😂😂

— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) February 14, 2019

Icardi's contract runs until 2021, so Inter are not under any immediate pressure to cash in.

Still, recent developments suggest all is not well for the striker at the San Siro, and you sense rumours regarding his future will ramp up between now and the end of the season. In the summer, it was reported by Jose Felix Diaz and David G. Medina of Marca that European champions Real Madrid were interested in the forward.

Losing Icardi would be a big blow given his goalscoring pedigree and previous affinity with the Nerazzurri, although Inter writer Nima Tavallaey said the club is more important than its former skipper:

Just a reminder to certain people: the club’s name is FC Internazionale Milano & NOT Mauro Icardi FC.
No one is bigger than @Inter_en.

— Nima Tavallaey Roodsari (@NimaTavRood) February 13, 2019

While Inter have a number of talented players and an emerging young forward in Lautaro Martinez, the loss of Icardi would be a setback as they seek to push Juventus at the summit of Italian football.

Now all eyes will be on the San Siro on Sunday, when Inter take on Icardi's former side Sampdoria. If he's not in the squad again, eyebrows will be raised.

Inter Milan confirmed on Wednesday that goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is the new club captain, replacing striker Mauro Icardi.

The news was posted in a social media bulletin:

The Club can confirm that Samir #Handanovic is the new Inter captain.#FCIM

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) February 13, 2019

The decision follows a turbulent few weeks for Icardi and the club, with the striker still yet to sign a new contract at the San Siro.

As Goal relayed, the striker's wife and agent, Wanda Nara, has previously said that the Argentina international is open to extending his deal with the club, although she has noted the Milan giants should be offering him more amid interest from Spain, England and France.

Goal added that European champions Real Madrid have been strongly linked with Icardi in the past.

On Saturday, Inter manager Luciano Spalletti said the player must "free himself" from the contract saga and encouraged the club's directors to bring an end to the stalemate, per the MailOnline's Max Winters. However, the decision made by Inter on Wednesday will only serve to fuel further speculation.

Broadcaster Mina Rzouki believes the way the club has handled this situation and others of late is not a good look:

How can a club and a brand grow and prosper and succeed when they make headlines practically every day. Icardi’s renewal, Nainggolan’s social media, Marotta’s confessions, Spalletti’s moans, Perisic wanting out. Chaos at every level. https://t.co/rVo7fHTivc

— Mina Rzouki (@Minarzouki) February 13, 2019

Goal's Carlo Garganese said he was disappointed with how this has been dealt with and put some of the blame on new chief executive Giuseppe Marotta:

https://twitter.com/carlogarganese/status/1095652830436831232

It's far from ideal for Inter. Although Icardi has a contract at the club until 2021, he's undoubtedly their most important player, and the Serie A outfit will understandably be concerned about interest.

Icardi may not be the quickest nor the strongest, but his anticipation and instincts in the penalty area make him one of the most potent goalscorers in European football.

The forward is on a barren run in Serie A, but he still has nine goals from 20 appearances; in the previous four campaigns, he's netted 91 top-flight goals.

It will be intriguing to see just how many more times he nets for the Nerazzurri this season, as you sense there will a reaction to this latest development.

Eurosport's Siavoush Fallahi thinks the time is now for Icardi to show he is committed to the Inter cause:

Icardi has always remained faithful to Inter, he's always stayed, he's always delivered. If he truly cares for Inter and the club, now is the time to show it. Very interesting to see how he reacts on all this.

— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) February 13, 2019

Handanovic will surely do a decent job as captain, as he's experienced and well established as one of Serie A's most dependable goalkeepers. Having been at the club for seven years, he's also well attuned to what Inter supporters demand.

Even so, all the interest will be on Icardi next time he takes to the field. They're next in action on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League away at Rapid Vienna.  

Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has said there is no issue between the club and star forward Mauro Icardi regarding negotiations over a possible contract extension.

The forward's deal at Inter is set to expire in 2021, although recent speculation regarding the player's future has prompted some uncertainty about him signing for the long-term.

When asked about the player's situation, Marotta said he was not concerned that an agreement has not been reached yet and doesn't expect any hitches as Inter seek to tie their prize asset down, per Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Football Italia).

"Icardi's renewal isn't a problem whatsoever," he said. "We've already said what we had to say, beyond what we'll clarify with [manager Luciano] Spalletti. We'll manage the situation, but I can confirm that there won't be a problem."

Speaking to Tiki Taka (h/t Football Italia), Icardi's wife and agent Wanda Nara recently accused the San Siro club of not offering enough protection to the player "because sometimes nasty things have come out from inside."

That was after a report from Gazzetta dello Sport said Spalletti had made it clear he wanted urgent talks to be held in order to settle Icardi's long-term future. The manager said the Inter captain needs to "free himself" from the speculation surrounding his position, per MailOnline's Max Winters.

The talk surrounding Icardi's extension seems to be having a negative impact on his form, as he's not been his usual ruthless self in front of goal in recent games:

16 - Mauro #Icardi hasn't found the net with his last 16 total shots, a negative record for him of consecutive shots without score in his Serie A career. Difficulty.#ParmaInter

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 9, 2019

He has squandered clear openings in front of goal on numerous occasions this season:

Mauro Icardi: Only Cristiano Ronaldo (10) has missed more clear-cut goalscoring opportunities than Icardi (9) in Serie A this season

For more player stats -- https://t.co/aVgDkIy4gi pic.twitter.com/7uZbI9EbYp

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 9, 2019

While there won't be any immediate concern about the player leaving given he will still have two years remaining on his deal come the summer, the striker has reportedly been targeted by some high-profile outfits.

In the summer, it was reported by Jose Felix Diaz and David G. Medina of Marca that Real Madrid were interested in signing the striker.

Given his consistency in front of goal in recent years, links to clubs of that stature are not a surprise. Despite his goal drought at the moment, Icardi has proven himself as a razor-sharp finisher and someone capable of making a major impression in key moments of matches:

Inter will want the matter resolved as quickly as possible, as numerous key figures in the negotiation process are having their say on the stalemate in public.

Not only could the player and the club do without the distraction, Inter must keep players like Icardi around for as long as they can if they are going to become a force at the top of Italian football again.  

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti has urged the club to resolve the contract situation of star striker Mauro Icardi, whose struggling form he says has been affected by the distractions off the pitch.

Icardi failed to score for the seventh Serie A match in succession as Inter won 1-0 at Parma on Saturday, and Spalletti attributed his lack of recent goals to the ongoing contract negotiations.

Spalletti said, per MailOnline's Max Winters: "Mauro is evidently seeing his performance affected by some situations that have been going on recently. He needs to free himself from the talk that is around him. The directors agreed to start talking about the contract, so now they need to go there and conclude it."

The barren run of seven league games without a goal is Icardi's worst drought since 2013 when he joined the club, but OptaPaolo noted it's not for a lack of trying:

16 - Mauro #Icardi hasn't found the net with his last 16 total shots, a negative record for him of consecutive shots without score in his Serie A career. Difficulty.#ParmaInter

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 9, 2019

The Nerazzurri remain third in Serie A and are now 20 points off leaders Juventus. Spalletti's side have the second-best defence in Italy—they've conceded only one goal more than Juve—but their attack has scored the joint-fewest goals of any team in the top seven (32).

Inter have scored a combined two goals in their last five matches across all competitions, and they've netted more than a sole goal just once in their last 12 games.

Icardi's current contract isn't due to expire until June 2021, but it's understood the two parties are making little progress in terms of signing an extension.

Get Italian Football News recently translated a post to Icardi's Instagram story, which suggested the club have yet to make him an offer he finds tempting:

Mauro Icardi on Instagram: “My [contract] extension will happen the moment when Inter presents me an appropriate and concrete offer.” pic.twitter.com/AytzodaOYm

— Get Italian Football News (@_GIFN) January 10, 2019

Stefan De Vrij has only been at the club since the summer, but he recently said he felt his captain was happy at the San Siro:

THE WALL! 🧱💪

- 'Amazing' Icardi happy at Inter 😊
- Suarez his toughest opponent 🇺🇾
- 'Incredible' De Ligt set for big future 👏

Check out our interview with @Inter_en defender @Stefandevrij! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/lOD6PTBWRm

— GOAL (@goal) February 2, 2019

Icardi scored a combined 55 goals over the course of the previous two seasons, but the former Sampdoria hitman has netted only 15 this term, nine of which have come in Serie A.

Spalletti would just as soon see his star's off-field matters come to an end so that he can get back to having his old impact on it, but the manager may be left waiting with no contract resolution in sight.

Mauro Icardi's agent and wife, Wanda Nara, has suggested that Ivan Perisic could be enduring "personal problems" at Inter Milan amid reports the Croat has agreed a deal with Arsenal.

After discussing ongoing negotiations around a new deal for Icardi at the San Siro, Nara was asked about the prospect of Perisic leaving the Nerazzurri, per Tiki Taka (h/t Calciomercato), and she hinted personal issues could be a reason the 29-year-old is pushing for a departure.

According to Italian newspaper Libero (h/t Calciomercato), Perisic has agreed terms with Arsenal that would see him join on loan initially before penning a contract worth €6.5 million (£5.6 million) per year to 2022 in the summer. 

However, Inter are not prepared to let him go on loan unless there is a guarantee of a permanent switch in a €40 million (£35 million) transfer, per Football Italia.

At the moment, Arsenal are only committing to a loan with an option to buy, meaning they wouldn't be obliged to sign him permanently in the summer.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta revealed at the weekend that Perisic handed in a transfer request, but the club are clearly not prepared to let one of their best attacking players leave on the cheap:

#Inter director Marotta to @SkySport: "Perisic has asked to leave but there is no offer for him. We will see in the coming days. We will listen to the request of Perisic, he has put in a transfer request; we must try to satisfy him but also respect the value of him" 🇭🇷 #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2019

The Croatia international has been at Inter since 2015, and he enjoyed his most productive season for the club in 2017-18, netting 11 goals and providing nine assists in Serie A.

This season, he has scored three and assisted two in 18 appearances in the Italian top flight.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery revealed recently that the Gunners can only make loan signings in the January transfer window.

Perisic would be an exciting addition given such restraints, but Inter clearly want to make sure the Gunners will eventually pay a full fee for him.

Arsenal's immediate problems look to be in defence given their ongoing injury issues:

Laurent Koscielny is better than initially feared. Confirmed as
bruising and soft tissue swelling to his face and jaw - no fracture - assessed on a daily basis. However, Sokratis (ankle) is not expected to return to full training until the end of February. #AFC pic.twitter.com/K3yqpr6As2

— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) January 27, 2019

But Perisic could be a valuable addition in attack given his versatility and work ethic.

He prefers to play out on the left flank, but he is also comfortable in central positions. 

Perisic's creative instincts would likely mean he could fit well into the Arsenal side, but they will have to persuade Inter to let him go.   

Inter Milan's star defender Milan Skriniar has said he wants to sign a new contract at the San Siro amid recent speculation linking him with a move away from the club.

The centre-back only moved to Inter from Sampdoria in the summer of 2017 and has made rapid progress in his time at the club, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the division.

As such, there has been talk about a new deal for Skriniar, and he said he is hoping the extension gets sorted quickly, per Tuttosport (h/t Joe Wright of Goal).

"You all know I want to stay at Inter," said the 23-year-old. "I have a great relationship with the club and the directors. We're talking, and we're close to an agreement."

As Chris Burton of Goal relayed, Skriniar commented earlier this month on "s--t" being written about a possible departure from the Milan outfit.

Rob Dawson of ESPN FC reported in October that then-Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was keen on bringing the defender to Old Trafford in the January window. However, Mourinho has since been sacked by United, and Skriniar appears content with life at his current club.

The fact the Slovakian is happy to stay at Inter will be a big boost for the team as they attempt to challenge the might of Juventus, who have won the last seven Serie A titles in a row.

Keeping the likes of Skriniar around will be crucial in Inter's route back to the top, as there aren't many young defenders in European football who can offer what he does.

First and foremost, he looks after the ball well:

Milan Skriniar: Only Marlon Santos (93.5%) has a better pass success rate than Skriniar (93.1%) in Serie A this season (10+ starts)

For more player stats -- https://t.co/wqlGv4I22i pic.twitter.com/cL8N3CRk8p

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) January 17, 2019

In addition, the Slovakian relishes the defensive duties he has. He is rarely outdone when it comes to physical battles, but he also has the intelligence to detach himself from duels when necessary and put himself in strong positions to win the ball.

That blend of attributes has made him undroppable for manager Luciano Spalletti, despite the fact Inter have other high-class defensive options in the form of Miranda and Stefan De Vrij.

He didn't miss a minute for Inter in the Italian top flight last season:

Milan Škriniar started and finished the entire game in each of his 50 appearances for Inter. He's only missed two games, in both of which he was an unused substitute.

He has played 4,560 of a possible 4,740 minutes since joining the club. pic.twitter.com/gFdH9xeyL7

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 24, 2018

Skriniar also spoke about the club potentially adding Atletico Madrid's Diego Godin to bolster the club's defence:

"Godin would bring experience and a winning mentality," Skriniar said. "He is someone who has won trophies. He can give us a big helping hand and help us to become stronger."

With Mauro Icardi's agent and wife Wanda Nara telling Italian TV show Tiki Taka (h/t Nick Howson of Goal) recently that the striker will "100 per cent" sign a new contract at Inter, things appear to be looking up for the Nerazzurri.

Keeping their key men at both ends of the pitch is significant and will give them a spine to build around in the coming years. For a team whose historical identity has been based around a rock-solid defence, having Skriniar on board for the foreseeable future points to an outfit on an upward trajectory.  

Wanda Nara, the wife and agent of Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, has said the forward will sign a new contract at the club.

The striker's current terms are set to run out in 2021, and Icardi has been linked with a possible exit since the summer. Per AS (h/t Calciomercato), Nara said earlier this month the "two most important clubs in Spain" wanted to sign the player as well as a Premier League side and a Ligue 1 oufit.

Speaking about the striker's situation again to Tiki Taka (h/t Nick Howson of Goal), she offered a much more positive update for fans of the Nerazzurri:

"Neither Mauro nor I have ever asked for anything. The problem is that I’m always seen as the idiot. When the club decide it’s the right moment to call us, we’ll answer and sit down with them.

"There’s a real possibility of him staying at Inter for a long time. 

"An agreement soon? I’ve received positive signals, so I hope it can be an important week: my phone is on and for me he’ll renew 100 per cent, even if I haven’t talked to anyone yet."

Icardi has established himself as one of the best strikers in Italian football since making his switch to Inter from Sampdoria in 2013.

During his time at the club, he's grown as a player, developing his razor-sharp instincts inside the penalty area and netting goals at decisive times for the team. In 2017-18, he was crucial as the Milan outfit finished in fourth spot in Serie A, making their way back into the UEFA Champions League.

In Serie A, he netted 29 times, the biggest haul by an Inter player in the competition for a long time:

Mauro Icardi scored 29 goals in the 2017/18 Serie A season; the most by an Inter Milan player in a single campaign since Antonio Angelillo (33) in 1958/59.

Not good enough for the World Cup. 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/g2MxO5NtmY

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 21, 2018

Players who are so reliable in front of goal—he has nine in 17 Serie A appearances this season—are rare, so interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona wouldn't be a big shock.

However, Icardi has clearly developed an affinity with Inter. The striker may only be 25, but he's been the captain of the team since the end of the 2014-15 season. The manner in which he's shouldered that responsibility has made him popular among supporters, not to mention his excellent big-game record.

Inter seem to have faith in their No. 9's loyalty too, with the club's chief executive Giuseppe Marotta saying recently there's little to worry about:

Inter executive director Marotta:”Icardi’s extension? I don’t think there will be problems. Both parties want to continue the relationship and this is a common denominator that bodes well for the future” during last night’s Domenica Sportiva

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) January 14, 2019

If Inter do wish to challenge for the biggest trophies again, then it's crucial they keep players like Icardi at the club. In addition, with so much said from all parties on the extension recently, bringing the curtain down on the saga would allow the player and club to move forward.

The signs do appear positive for the San Siro faithful, and their star striker will be aware he's part of a team that's steadily moving in the right direction. If they are able to secure the future of one of the game's best sharpshooters, it's imperative Inter build a team that's capable of bringing the most from him.

Inter Milan manager Luciano Spalletti said on Sunday that defender Milan Skriniar will stay at the San Siro because no teams have the financial power to sign the 23-year-old.

"Skriniar is staying here; he is out of everybody's price range," he said, per Goal. "Nobody can afford him."

The Slovakia international has emerged as one of the most exciting defenders in Europe since joining Inter from Sampdoria in 2017.

Opta noted how he did not miss a minute of Serie A action last season:

3420 - Milan Skriniar is the first outfield Inter player to play every single minute of a league campaign (3420) since Serie A went back to 20 teams (2004-05), overtaking Javier Zanetti (3375) in 2008-09. Essential. pic.twitter.com/9asyWwoxcU

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 21, 2018

Skriniar has become a rock at the back for Inter. He's strong, possesses good timing, is composed on the ball and can be relied upon to win back possession.

Scouted Football highlighted how Inter's defence has improved since his arrival:

Milan Škriniar (23) in all competitions since joining Internazionale:

• 51 appearances
• 40 goals conceded
• 22 clean sheets

Internazionale's last 51 games in all competitions before signing Škriniar:

• 72 goals conceded
• 8 clean sheets

Influential. pic.twitter.com/xqQ7Ldvvl8

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) October 30, 2018

His performances have led to speculation over his future, although the defender has taken to social media to shut down the rumours.

According to Richard Fay at the Manchester Evening News, Skriniar posted an Instagram story with his response to reported interest from Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He wrote: "You write things that you don't even know. You are s--t. Now write an article on this."

Skriniar's contract with Inter Milan runs until June 2020. Karol Csonto, the defender's agent, told Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Joe Wright at Goal), there have been discussions over a renewal.

Spalletti has previously spoken about how much clubs may have to spend if they wanted to tempt Skriniar away from Inter, per Ben Gladwell at ESPN FC.

"If it's Barcelona, they will have to pay €100 million, and if I am them, I would pay a €20 million tip on top," he said. "And if I'm Real Madrid, the [€100 million] with a €40 million tip—that is how highly I rate Skriniar."

Spalletti's made it clear he has no interest in letting one of his key men go, but his words are unlikely to put off admirers if Skriniar maintains the level of performance he's shown during his time at the San Siro.