Inter Milan on Monday
continued their strong summer transfer window ahead of the start of the Serie A
season, announcing the return to Italy of Senegal international Keita Balde on
loan from French Ligue 1 side Monaco.
Ambitious Inter, who have
been busy in the transfer market after finishing fourth in Serie A last season
and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2011, have
brought in the 23-year-old former Lazio striker for a reported initial five
million euros ($5.7 million).
The fee will rise to 39
million euros should the Serie A club exercise an option to buy next summer,
according to Italian media.
“The forward Keita Balde
Diao is a new Nerazzurri player. The Senegalese has signed for Inter from
Monaco on a year-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent,” Inter
said in a statement.
Balde rose to prominence at
Lazio in 2016-17, when he scored 16 goals in 31 league appearances — 10 of
which were from the bench — before sinking into a contract row at the start of
last season and leaving for France.
Last term he scored eight
goals and provided five assists in 23 Ligue 1 appearances as Monaco finished
second behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Balde joins fellow Inter
newcomers Radja Nainggolan, signed from rivals Roma, promising Argentine
attacker Lautaro Martinez and Dutch international centre-back Stefan de Vrij.
They have also brought in
right-back Sime Vrsaljko, who started in six of Croatia’s seven matches in
their run to the World Cup final, on loan from Atletico Madrid.
(Punch)
