Valentino Lazaro has little interest in a return to Newcastle United and wants to prove his worth at Serie A champions Inter Milan instead, the Austria international’s agent has told FC Inter News.
The shock departure of Antonio Conte may have some at the San Siro wondering whether the crown will weigh heavily on Nerazzurri heads.
But if there’s one man who would have been happy to see Conte go, sipping champagne in the shadowy regions of the Giuseppe Meazza dressing room, it’s Lazaro.
The former Hertha Berlin schemer has started just three Serie A games since sealing a £20 million move to Italy in summer 2019 after all.
Conte’s departure, coupled with the appointment of former Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi and the departure of fellow right-sider Achraf Hakimi, means Lazaro should be handed a fresh start.
Could Newcastle really bring Lazaro back to the Premier League?
Gazzetta dello Sport recently claimed Lazaro would have been tempted by a return to Newcastle, having played 15 times for Steve Bruce during a loan spell in the second half of the 2020/21 campaign.
But it seems the 25-year-old would only consider a second spell in the Premier League if Inter made it clear he’s not part of their plans.
“We have met Inter and confirmed Valentino wants to stay here in Milan,” agent Max Hagmayr explains.
“A transfer? There is interest but his decision is to stay. If there are offers, I will meet the club, of course.”
Lazaro spent last season on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, scoring one of the goals of the season with a stunning scorpion kick during November’s Bundesliga clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
It has been a frustrating summer for Newcastle so far, the Magpies have missed out on William Saliba to Marseille while Kristoffer Ajer looks set to join Brentford.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
