The destination for Davide Frattesi was always a mystery. With Juventus, AS Roma, Inter, Napoli and AC Milan all keen to sign the Sassuolo midfielder this summer, there was a lot of competition for his signature.
But Inter remained confident of a deal for some time, due to Frattesi’s earlier promise to the Nerazzurri. However, when Milan came calling a small feeling of doubt arose.
The 23-year-old has now put pen to paper on a contract at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza and will work under Simone Inzaghi, as the club confirmed on Thursday, July 6.
The finances of the deal
Sassuolo are expert negotiators and remained firm throughout the discussions. They stuck to their value of somewhere in the region of €40 million, something which, for a lengthy period of time, Inter were unable to offer, due to their well-documented financial situation.
The sale of Marcelo Brozovic has added funds to the club’s summer balance, and it meant that they were in a position to fulfill their promise to both the Neroverdi and the player himself that they would pay the fee that fairly represents the midfielder’s value. Now, they’ve been able to get their man.
For some time, though, the plan was clear. It was in nobody’s interests to make the deal any more complicated than it needed to be, and not even Sassuolo were keen for an auction to break out. That could well have happened had Juventus and Roma concreted their interest in the player and followed the suit of Napoli and the Rossoneri – both presented offers to the Emilian club earlier in July.
The final fee has been agreed for a total of €27 million, with the Nerazzurri also parting way with Samuele Mulattieri, valued at around €6m, who would’ve likely joined the Neroverdi regardless of where Frattesi had ended up.
Davide Frattesi contract
Davide Frattesi has signed a five-year contract with Inter, having joined the club after a successful period with Sassuolo.
Frattesi played 75 games with Sassuolo in his two seasons there, scoring 11 goals from midfield. The Neroverdi issued a touching tribute to the outgoing midfielder, wishing him well and heaping praise on his character, beyond his on-field ability.
