Inter Milan have denied they have reached an agreement with Barcelona over the transfer of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Catalan giants.
Speculation has been rife that Ibrahimovic is set to move to the Nou Camp this summer and increased still further following a dinner between Inter president Massimo Moratti and Barca supremo Joan Laporta last week.
Reports today suggested the two clubs have struck a deal over the 27-year-old, something the Nerazzurri have strenuously denied.
"During the transfer window, a headline in a newspaper is enough to transform groundless rumours into truth," read a statement on the club website, www.inter.it.
"This is what has happened today after the article published in Barcelona newspaper El Mundo Deportivo about a presumed deal between FC Internazionale and the Catalan club.
"Besides being completely unfounded, the presumed deal seems remote from any logic, even to the eyes of neutral observers. The report is, therefore, groundless."
According to El Mundo Deportivo, Inter had accepted an offer of 10 million euros plus Samuel Eto'o, 30 million less than they reportedly wanted for the Sweden striker.
Ibrahimovic recently entered the club history books after becoming the first Inter player in 20 years to win the capocannoniere trophy as the leading goalscorer in Italy's top flight with 25 goals.
The forward's agent also rubbished the report, claiming his client is worth over 100 million euros.
Mino Raiola also hinted that Inter could try to push for Barca star Lionel Messi rather than Eto'o.
"Ibrahimovic is worth as much as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo put together," Raiola told Onda Cero. "There's no deal in place.
"It's normal that the two presidents talk, Moratti likes Messi and they were also talking about him.
"However, any club who wants Zlatan first has to talk to Inter and then offer us a sporting and economic project.
"There's no agreement with any club apart from Inter, we are not free to talk to anyone."
Reports today suggested the two clubs have struck a deal over the 27-year-old, something the Nerazzurri have strenuously denied.
"During the transfer window, a headline in a newspaper is enough to transform groundless rumours into truth," read a statement on the club website, www.inter.it.
"This is what has happened today after the article published in Barcelona newspaper El Mundo Deportivo about a presumed deal between FC Internazionale and the Catalan club.
"Besides being completely unfounded, the presumed deal seems remote from any logic, even to the eyes of neutral observers. The report is, therefore, groundless."
According to El Mundo Deportivo, Inter had accepted an offer of 10 million euros plus Samuel Eto'o, 30 million less than they reportedly wanted for the Sweden striker.
Ibrahimovic recently entered the club history books after becoming the first Inter player in 20 years to win the capocannoniere trophy as the leading goalscorer in Italy's top flight with 25 goals.
The forward's agent also rubbished the report, claiming his client is worth over 100 million euros.
Mino Raiola also hinted that Inter could try to push for Barca star Lionel Messi rather than Eto'o.
"Ibrahimovic is worth as much as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo put together," Raiola told Onda Cero. "There's no deal in place.
"It's normal that the two presidents talk, Moratti likes Messi and they were also talking about him.
"However, any club who wants Zlatan first has to talk to Inter and then offer us a sporting and economic project.
"There's no agreement with any club apart from Inter, we are not free to talk to anyone."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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