They both have the renewal proposals from Milan and Inter on the table: what stage are the negotiations at?
January 18 – RIAD (SAUDI ARABIA)
And it turns out it’s just the hot water – which is also convenient here, these days – to associate Riad with another word that begins with “ri”, wealth. Land of sheiks, this. Of dollars and oil, of money that tempts anyone who sees the sunset (and Ronaldo doesn’t take offense). Rafa Leao and Milan Skriniar are at dawn, however. And it’s not just the identity card, even if it’s different. They are at the dawn of a career that could take them who knows where. Not in Saudi, but earning money in the richest clubs in Europe. Destiny is in their hands, in the Super Cup and beyond. Dribble past Milan and Inter and say hello. Or stop, sip a good wine and take the pen. Tonight they will play face to face and, with the amount they are asking for renewals, they are the sheikhs of the Super Cup.
Qui Rafa
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Leao sleeps in the same hotel as CR7 these nights. A transparent, tall, elegant skyscraper that has won design awards. He looks like Rafa who is transparent – never hiding an emotion in the game -, he has the inches and style of special players. If there was a designer footballer, it would be him. Milan fans know that renewal is always a topical issue but they don’t worry about the derby: Leao won’t be distracted. Milan made him an offer not far from 7 million and aims to resolve everything by January. In recent weeks, Rafa first made it clear that he was thinking very seriously about signing, then he didn’t accelerate. Indeed, the situation is deadlocked, with at least two issues to resolve: the (economic…) relationship between the agents and the clause. Moral: if Rafa wants, an agreement is reached; if discussions continue, everything is postponed, with a summer sale at that point much more likely. The steps forward, rather, have been seen on the pitch. Pioli paid great compliments to Leao for how he kept his head in the Salerno match. For the fans, on the other hand, it would be enough for Rafa to copy and paste the match on 3 September, when he scored twice, sent Giroud on goal and mistreated Skriniar. In the derby chessboard, Leao is the least markable, the purest talent and will soon be one of the highest paid. It remains to be seen who will make the transfer at the end of the month.
Here “Casket”
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Which is basically the same doubt around Skriniar. What Milan does by name, for him it’s derby every day. And Scrigno is the nickname. Never guessed again, because Slovak is a treasure for everyone. It is for Inter, which has come to offer him a contract worth 6 million net plus bonuses, raising the bar where higher is not possible. Skriniar is keeping the point. He doesn’t say no and he doesn’t say yes. He postpones. He keeps Inter on their toes as he does with the attackers who try to overcome him. In the summer, PSG managed to break through the 9 million mark. That offer is no longer on the table. But such a defender on the market makes you think. And he makes the player himself think, who is faced with a choice: to stay and become the symbol of the club, as the fans have asked him. Or he can choose to combine the economic aspect with the sporty one, in a top-tier club. Between one postponement and another, the defender ensured a response for Inter after the Super Cup. By the weekend (Friday?) there will be a meeting with the agent. There’s not much optimism, the match is going on too long. “Am I afraid of losing him? This situation is part of today’s football – commented Inzaghi -, but as I see it I would say no, I have the utmost faith in the club”. Actually, it’s better to think about the Super Cup. Which could be the first trophy raised by Skriniar as captain. He who knows if the last.
January 18 – 08:24
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