Inter Milan would be making a big mistake letting Ivan Perisic join Premier League suitors Newcastle United, Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer, former Serie A ace Fausto Pizzi tells Tuttomercatoweb.
The Nerazzuri’s most consistent performer during 2021/22 has been not Lautaro Martinez, Marcelo Brozovic, Nicolo Barella nor Hakan Calhanoglu.
Instead, it’s a 30-something winger who continues to roll back the years and prove beyond all reasonable doubt that age is nothing more than a collection of numbers.
In his last five Serie A matches, Perisic has scored or assisted six goals. In fact, he’s almost single-handedly keeping the Scudetto race alive.
No wonder Simone Inzaghi, who succeeded Antonio Conte in the San Siro dugout less than 12 months ago, is determined to hang onto a player he describes as an ‘extraordinary’ talent.
According to TMW, Newcastle are interested amid doubts about Matt Targett’s long-term future at St James’ Park. Chelsea, Arsenal and Conte’s Tottenham are also making their interest known, say The Mirror.
Ivan Perisic’s Inter Milan contract is expiring
“Absolutely (I’d keep Perisic),” says Pizzi, a UEFA Cup winner with Inter Milan in the 1990s.
“He is crucial. To score seven goals as a winger and participate in so many decisive actions is incredible. There are no other players like him in Serie A.”
A move to North London may see Perisic reunite with the coach guided him to his first Serie A title in 2021.
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What’s more, the evergreen 33-year-old is a footballer tailor-made for Conte’s wing-back system. Neither Sergio Reguillon nor Ryan Sessegnon are capable of creating chances at such a remarkable rate from the left-hand side.
In addition to his seven goals, Perisic has eight assists in 2021/22. He even gave Trent Alexander-Arnold the runaround during the Champions League round-of-16 first-leg tie against Liverpool.
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