Perisic blows off team pic, journalists

I, for one, am getting a little tired of the Ivan Perisic saga that continues to unfold as Inter Milan continues its summer camp.

While I figured the best thing was to just let things lie until there was a resolution to whether the Croatian winger was going to Manchester United or staying with the Nerazzurri, what happened Thursday really tweaked me.

First, there was the team picture where Perisic decided to cross his arms and distance himself from the rest of the team. Psychologists would tell you the arms crossed is a sign of a barrier or that you are defensive.

That’s not even the point I want to make here.

It’s the fact that, regardless of the contract or transfer situation, you are still part of Inter Milan and until that changes you should damn well act like it. I don’t care if you are happy with the situation or miffed because Manchester United is low-balling Inter’s valuation for you.

The fact that Manchester is low-balling should give a little pause to Perisic. Here is a club with all the riches of strong ownership and Premier League television rights and they choose to come in with offers that are well below what Inter is willing to part with. If I’m Perisic I would be a little concerned with the fact that United is trying to get me on the cheap.

The second thing is that Inter has held to its guns and not sold Perisic, even when it was assumed they would out of FPP necessity.

Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

To me, you have a club that wants you, but doesn’t want to pay the price to get you and another club that has such a high value on you that they weren’t willing to sell you even when they pretty much needed to.

But, no. Perisic sees the riches of the Champions League, the Premier League and Jose Mourinho and not the writing on the wall which is that the Red Devils may pay him, but they may not respect his talent.

The second incident happened later in the day while the players were visiting Plan De Corones, a place near their summer headquarters in Trentino. Sky Sport Italia reporter Massimiliano Nebulani attempted to shoot some video of Perisic. In turn, Perisic got testy and tried to cover the camera up with his hand.

On Thursday, Inter director Piero Ausilio said the deal with Manchester isn’t happening.

“It’s not happening. Perisic is training with us and so far we have not taken into consideration anything that Manchester United have offered us.”

- Ausilio told Sky Sport Italia

Let’s be honest here. It was Mourinho that started all of this by suggesting Manchester United take advantage of Inter’s need for cash before June 30 due to FPP.

If not for that, these negotiations may have gone a different direction.

I get the fact that it’s a game and clubs will try to pay the least amount possible for a player. But, if you really want the target, you pony up the dough.

Now, with Perisic if the deal is really dead in the water, it needs to be put to rest and he needs to grow up and get with the program.

Or, welcome to the bench. You can be the highest paid benchwarmer until January when you can go where you want and make half as much as Inter is willing to pay.