Inter Milan has high hopes for Valentin Carboni, and that’s essential to understand as discussions with Olympique Marseille intensify in the coming days. Coach Roberto De Zerbi is eager to secure the Argentine talent, and the French club is actively pursuing him. Initial talks have revealed that Inter values Carboni at €40 million, a figure that Marseille is currently reluctant to meet.
However, a preliminary offer was made that includes a loan with an option to buy set at €40 million. This is seen as a solid starting point for negotiations, enabling Inter to temporarily part ways with Carboni while allowing him to gain experience at a club of a higher status than Monza, where he played last season.
There’s a catch, though. Inter’s management, led by Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio, is wary of permanently losing Carboni if he shines in Ligue 1. To address this concern, Inter is preparing a counter-proposal that would allow them to bring the player back for a slightly higher fee than the original buyout, potentially around €45 million. This arrangement would effectively mean a re-purchase cost of about €5 million, depending on the specifics of the payment structure.
What’s crucial for Inter is to retain some control over Carboni’s future and avoid letting him go without options. Additionally, there are plans for a contract extension, which, while somewhat symbolic given that his current agreement runs until 2028, signals the club’s belief in his potential role in their future squad.
If negotiations between Inter and Marseille continue along these lines, it’s likely that a deal could be reached before Carboni returns to Milan. He is expected back between August 7 and 8 after representing Argentina in the Copa America, alongside fellow national teammate Lautaro Martinez. It’s possible that, following his holiday, Carboni could head straight to Marseille for a contract signing, with a subsequent move to Italy occurring later for his relocation to the French city.